Category: Obituary Page

Sankofaonline News Desk

Dagbang stands in solemn reflection as it bids farewell to one of its most esteemed sons, Tolon Naa, Retired Major Sulemana, a leader whose life embodied courage, discipline and unwavering devotion to the people he served. His passing has cast a deep shadow across the kingdom, arriving at a moment when Dagbang is still healing from recent losses, and reminding all of the delicate thread that binds leadership, heritage and communal strength.

Tolon Naa’s journey was marked by service in two great arenas, the national military and the traditional throne, each shaping him into a figure of rare fortitude. In uniform, he defended the nation with honour, carrying the values of duty and sacrifice. On the throne, he upheld the dignity of Tolon with wisdom, fairness and a steady commitment to the welfare of his people. His leadership was not merely exercised, it was felt, respected and trusted.

Across Dagbang, elders, chiefs and families speak of him as a warrior king whose presence steadied the community in times of uncertainty. His counsel was sought, his discipline admired, and his humility remembered. He carried the ancestral spirit of Gbewaa with grace, embodying the lineage of leaders who protect tradition while guiding their people toward a stable future.

The kingdom mourns deeply, yet within this grief lies a collective prayer that the cycle of sorrow will cease, that Allah will preserve the custodians of Dagbang’s heritage, and that peace will rest upon the land. The hope of the people is that this moment marks the end of mourning for the year and the beginning of renewed strength for the years ahead.

Tolon Naa leaves behind a legacy defined by service, courage and an unbroken commitment to community. His memory will continue to guide Tolon, and his example will remain a reference point for leadership rooted in integrity and compassion. May Allah grant him Jannatul Firdaus, and may his family and the people of Tolon find comfort, unity and resilience in this difficult hour.

Rest peacefully, Gbewaa Yaba, your name enters the honoured roll of Dagbang’s unforgettable leaders.

From: Friends of the Rawlingses

Today, we mourn a great soldier, a traditional leader, and a key figure in the life story of our hero, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings.

The passing of Tolon Naa, Major (Rtd) Abubakari Sulemana, has closed a powerful chapter in Ghana’s military and political history. He was not just a chief. He was the man destiny placed directly opposite Rawlings on the morning of May 15, 1979.

We, the Friends of Rawlings, pay this tribute with honesty, respect and reconciliation.

1. THE MAN WHO ARRESTED RAWLINGS AND SAVED HIS LIFE_

On May 15, 1979, when our young, idealistic Air Force pilot attempted to overthrow the SMC II regime of General Akuffo because of the corruption and rot in the country, it was Major Sulemana, then Commanding Officer of the Recce Regiment, who foiled the attempt.

He went through a hail of bullets at the Air Force Base, seized Rawlings’ weapon and arrested him personally. He did not kill him on the spot as many would have done. He put him in his own command car, drove him to his office at Burma Camp and protected him.

He told Rawlings: “Rawlings, guns cannot solve Ghana’s problem.”

Rawlings asked for whiskey, and Major Sulemana went to his own house to bring him a bottle. He then handed him over alive to Major General Odartey-Wellington. That act of professionalism is why Rawlings lived to lead the June 4th Revolution.

2. HE DENIED TORTURING OUR HERO

For 40 years, the story was told that Rawlings was tortured and his nails removed after the May 15th arrest. Major Sulemana stood firm and clarified history:

“I gave Rawlings whiskey, never tortured him. I wish Rawlings could come back and tell you. They are all lies. I never hurt him. If they tortured him at the MI area, I don’t know. But from the airport base to my office, nothing happened to him.”

He insisted Rawlings was his friend. They rode horses together at Burma Camp. They sat in his house and discussed Ghana. “Very gentle. Not a devil,” he said of Rawlings.

That truth matters to us.

3. THE COST HE PAID AFTER JUNE 4.

After June 4, 1979 and December 31, 1981, Major Sulemana paid a heavy price for doing his duty as a soldier. He was forced into exile in 1982 by the PNDC government and lived away from Dagbon and Tolon for 18 years until his return in 2000.

Yet he never harbored bitterness. In his last interviews, he prayed for Rawlings after his death in 2020, asking God to forgive him for all his mistakes, and he warned that evil men around Rawlings had used him for dirty work.

4. FROM SOLDIER TO CHIEF

Born in 1943 at Tali, near Tolon, first son of Tolon Naa Alhassan Sulemana, commissioned in 1963 as one of Nkrumah’s own escort officers, to becoming Commanding Officer of the Armoured Recce Regiment, to becoming a member of President Kufuor’s National Security Advisory Corps in 2001, to finally being enskinned as Tolon Naa in 2019 by Yaa Naa Abukari Mahama II, his life was service.

He was a bridge between two eras – the old professional Ghana Army and the revolutionary era of Rawlings.

Today, the soldier who arrested Rawlings and the pilot he arrested have both gone to meet their Maker. History has reconciled them.

We, Friends of Rawlings, extend our deepest condolences to the Tolon Traditional Area, his family and the Ghana Armed Forces.

May his soul rest in peace. May the gallant Tolon Naa and our Founder, JJ, find peace together.

Damirifa Due! Rest Well, Naa Major.

Sankofaonline News Desk | August 15, 2026

The sudden passing of Jason Atta Kwei Arday at just 41 years old has cast a long, heavy shadow across the academic world, the Ghanaian diaspora, and every community that followed his remarkable rise. His death, described by authorities as unexpected but not suspicious, brings a painful and premature end to a life defined by perseverance, brilliance, and an unyielding commitment to widening the doors of opportunity for others.

Arday’s journey was never ordinary. Born in Clapham to Ghanaian parents, raised as the third of four boys, and navigating early developmental challenges that delayed his speech until age eleven, he grew into a scholar whose work and presence challenged the boundaries of possibility. His appointment in 2023 as Cambridge University’s youngest Black professor was not merely a personal milestone; it was a moment that reverberated across continents, symbolizing what determination can achieve even in spaces historically resistant to change.

Yet the years that followed were marked by scrutiny, controversy, and relentless public pressure. Allegations surrounding his academic work and credentials—contested, investigated, and debated—placed him under a spotlight that few could withstand. Even as he maintained his innocence and pointed to institutional panels that cleared him of wrongdoing, the weight of the discourse was unmistakable. His resignation earlier this month was a somber chapter in a story that had once inspired so many.

Today, however, the noise of controversy must give way to the quiet truth of loss.

A family has lost a son. Brothers have lost a sibling. A community has lost a symbol of aspiration. And the academy has lost a mind that dared to imagine a more inclusive future.

In their statement, his family described him as a “gentle man,” a phrase that cuts through the headlines and reminds us of the humanity behind the public figure. It invites us to remember not only the professor, but the person—the son of a mental health nurse and a chef, the boy from Clapham, the man who fought to make elite institutions more reflective of the societies they serve.

This moment calls for reflection. It calls for compassion. And it calls for a reckoning with the pressures placed upon individuals who break barriers in spaces not built for them. Jason Arday’s life was a testament to resilience; his passing is a reminder of its limits.

May his memory endure not in the controversies that clouded his final years, but in the courage that defined his ascent. May his family find strength in the legacy he leaves behind. And may the institutions that celebrated him—and later scrutinized him—learn from the human cost of their expectations.

A mighty tree has fallen. And the forest feels the silence.

Rest peacefully in the Lord’s eternal bosom, Ambassador James Victor Gbeho.

Today, our Republic gathers in solemn dignity to honour a statesman whose life’s work stands as one of the most distinguished chapters in Ghana’s diplomatic history. Ambassador James Victor Gbeho was not merely a public servant, he was an institution, a pillar of our Foreign Service, and a national treasure whose legacy will endure for generations.

Since joining Ghana’s Foreign Service in 1959, Ambassador Gbeho served his nation with unmatched devotion and an unbroken commitment to excellence. He embodied the finest traditions of Ghanaian diplomacy, defined by integrity, discipline, courage, and an unwavering adherence to principle. In every role he occupied, he demonstrated that public service is a sacred calling, one that demands honour, sacrifice, and steadfastness.

From his early years as a junior Foreign Service Officer, rising through Deputy Director, Director, Chief Director, Deputy Minister, and ultimately Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gbeho helped shape the architecture of a formidable Ghanaian Foreign Service. His intellect, institutional memory, and diplomatic acumen strengthened our nation’s voice on the global stage.

As Ghana’s longest serving Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, he left an indelible imprint on multilateral diplomacy. Ambassador Gbeho was a resolute believer in the power of international cooperation. His contributions enriched the United Nations and ECOWAS, advancing peace, justice, and collective progress. His golden footprints remain visible in the corridors of global governance.

His service extended beyond diplomacy. As Member of Parliament for Anlo, he played a meaningful role in shaping the legislative foundations of the Fourth Republic, bringing his deep understanding of governance and international affairs to bear on national development.

On a personal note, I remain profoundly grateful for the wisdom he shared with me from the moment of my nomination as Foreign Minister. Even in his final days, he welcomed me with warmth and clarity, offering counsel that reflected his lifelong devotion to Ghana. His mentorship was a gift I will carry throughout my public service.

It is a source of deep comfort that in December last year, I had the distinct honour of presenting him with a national award on behalf of Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In doing so, we affirmed a principle that must guide our nation, that our heroes must be celebrated in life, not only in death.

We are equally proud that the Ministry unanimously resolved to name our new banquet hall in his honour. This ensures that future generations of Ghanaian diplomats will walk through a space that carries his name, his legacy, and his example.

Uncle Victor, your legacy is indelible. Your service is immortal. Your memory will remain a guiding light for Ghana’s Foreign Service and for all who believe in the power of principled diplomacy.

May your noble soul find eternal rest in the Lord’s embrace.