Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has been conferred with a prestigious Yoruba chieftaincy title by one of Nigeria’s most revered traditional rulers, in a ceremony that underscored the deep cultural ties between West African nations.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, bestowed the title of Aare Atayeto Oodua of the Source upon President Mahama on Monday at his palace in Ile-Ife, the spiritual capital of Yorubaland in south-western Nigeria.
The ceremony at Afewonro Park within the palace grounds brought together Yoruba traditional rulers, political figures and cultural dignitaries from Nigeria and Ghana. Security was tight as the Ghanaian leader was received with full traditional honours befitting a Yoruba chieftaincy investiture.
Despite being a Gonja from Ghana, Mr Mahama’s connection to Yoruba culture runs deeper than diplomatic ties. He was raised by his Nigerian stepmother, a Yoruba woman from Offa in Kwara State, and spent several formative years living in the town after his father went into exile in Nigeria following a coup in Ghana.
This personal history strengthened the significance of Monday’s ceremony, where beautiful Yoruba culture was on full display
Oba Ogunwusi, who also serves as permanent chairman of the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council, used the occasion to deliver a powerful message about African unity, emphasising the shared heritage between the Yoruba people and Ghanaians.
The Ooni’s palace noted that President Mahama had maintained a relationship with the traditional institution even before his return to Ghana’s presidency.
“This palace is familiar to you. You have been part of our journey and have grown with us,” Oba Ogunwusi said, acknowledging Mr Mahama’s longstanding connection with Ile-Ife.
“In Ghana, you say ‘Akwaabo,’ and here we say ‘Ekaabo.’ Are they not the same? We are one people, one family,” the Yoruba monarch declared, highlighting linguistic similarities that demonstrate historical connections predating colonial borders.
The Ooni stressed that artificial boundaries imposed during colonial rule should not diminish the cultural and ancestral ties that bind Yoruba communities across West Africa, including those in Ghana, Benin, Togo and beyond.
He praised President Mahama’s leadership, particularly his economic reforms since returning to office for a second term. “To the glory of God, you are now a true reformer. Upon assuming office for a second term, Ghana’s economy witnessed a remarkable turnaround,” Oba Ogunwusi said.
The traditional ruler also recalled a previous visit by Mr Mahama to Ile-Ife after he had left office, when Yoruba priests and elders offered prayers with what he described as a prophetic declaration that the Ghanaian leader would return to power.
In his acceptance address, President Mahama expressed gratitude to the Ooni and the people of Ile-Ife, emphasising the ancestral links between Ghana and Yorubaland. “The people of Accra trace their lineage to Ile-Ife. We are one family,” Mr Mahama said, dedicating the chieftaincy title to all Ghanaians.
The Ghanaian president already holds the Yoruba title of Aare Atolase of Offa Kingdom, conferred upon him in 2015 during his first presidential term, making the latest honour from the Ooni his second major Yoruba chieftaincy title.
Mr Mahama promised to use his position as a Yoruba chief to deepen bilateral relations between Ghana and Nigeria and to foster reconciliation within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). “As long as I serve as president of Ghana, I will work to deepen ties between our nations and bridge divides within ECOWAS,” he said.
Traditional rulers like the Ooni wield significant moral authority and serve as custodians of cultural heritage across the region. This authority is particularly potent in Ile-Ife, which holds special significance in Yoruba cosmology as the place where the Yoruba believe the world was created and from which their ancestors spread across West Africa. The city remains the spiritual and cultural heartland of the Yoruba people, one of West Africa’s largest ethnic groups with populations spanning several countries
Monday’s investiture at Afewonro Park within the palace grounds featured the full splendour of Yoruba culture, with mounted cavalry escorts and palace ceremonies reflecting the deep significance of the honour being conferred upon the president.
