{
  "id": 3316195,
  "title": "From Barracks to Palace: The Extraordinary Life of Tolon Naa Major Sulemana",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/from-barracks-to-palace-the-extraordinary-life-of-tolon-naa-major",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-25T17:18:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "GBC Ghana",
    "slug": "gbc-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/general-news/tolon-naa-major-sulemana/2026/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Major Sulemana Abubakari led an extraordinary life, transitioning from the ranks of the Ghana Armed Forces to the prestigious position of Tolon Naa in the historically significant Dagbon kingdom. Born in 1943, Sulemana was immersed in a family deeply connected to the Tolon skin, a role traditionally linked to the defense of the kingdom. Joining the military in the early 1960s, his meteoric rise led him to command the Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment by 1980. This period of his life coincided with a turbulent era in Ghana’s history, where the military increasingly became entwined with national politics. In 1982, during the regime of the PNDC, Major Sulemana was compelled into exile, enduring a 18-year absence from his homeland. It wasn’t until 2000, following the return to constitutional rule, that he finally returned to Ghana. This return marked the commencement of another significant chapter in Sulemana’s life. In 2001, President John Agyekum Kufuor selected him for the National Security Advisory Corps, re-engaging him in national service. However, destiny had another plan for him. After the passing of his father, Tolon Naa Alhassan Sulemana in 1998, Major Sulemana was appointed as Regent of Tolon in 2001, holding this role for an impressive 18 years. In 2019, following the completion of his father’s funeral rites, he was officially inducted as the substantive Tolon Naa by Yaa Naa Abukari Mahama II. His return to the Tolon skin was particularly significant, as the skin's history is intrinsically linked to warfare and the defense of Dagbon. Sulemana’s life thus provided an uncommon perspective on leadership, blending his military discipline with the traditions, relationships, and responsibilities of the palace. His extraordinary journey—from soldier to traditional ruler—embodying a history that mirrored the nation’s military interventions, political upheavals, exile, and eventual democratic restoration, remains a remarkable testament to the multifaceted nature of his life. Major Sulemana passed away on August 23, 2026, leaving behind a legacy that resonates deeply with the history of both Ghana and Dagbon.",
  "summary": "By Murtala Issah There is something striking about the life of Major (Rtd.) Sulemana Abubakari. He spent much of his adult life as a soldier, serving Ghana and rising through the ranks to command the Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment. Years later, he would occupy one of the most important traditional skins in Dagbon, the Tolon skin, […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}