The Greater Accra Bissa community will come together this Saturday, April 27, for a significant dual event steeped in cultural traditions to honour the life of their late president of the council, Kir Mohamed Ali Dabre III, while simultaneously ushering in his successor to the revered chieftaincy position.
The occasion will mark the 40th-day memorial service for Kir Dabre III and the beginning of the reign of his younger brother, Salisu Ali Dabre IV.
This dual event at the National Mosque in Kanda, Accra, is expected to draw a massive turnout, with Bissas from all walks of life and other natives from far and near converging to bid farewell to the late chief while welcoming his successor.
The grounds will be adorned with vibrant traditional regalia and grandiose ornamentation, showcasing the Bissa culture.
The rich Bissa culture will be further showcased through the recitation of revered appellations and poetic odes, extolling the virtues of leadership and the chieftaincy’s enduring legacy.
While the Bissa people trace their origins to Ghana’s Upper East region, a sizable community has established itself in the Greater Accra area, unified under the leadership of the Ali Dabre family in an effort to preserve their cohesion and cultural identity.
Ali Dabre III passed away last month in the United States at the age of 78 after a brief illness, just five months after marking his 23-year milestone as president of the Greater Accra Council of Bissa Chiefs on October 30th, 2023.
He ascended to the influential role after his elder brother Osman Ali Dabre II’s demise. The celebrated lecturer left an indelible mark through exemplary leadership and scholastic endeavours.
His younger brother, Salisu Ali Dabre, whose choice follows an endorsement by the Greater Accra Council of Bissa Chiefs, will formally take over as the new chief through sacred age-old rituals and customs passed down for generations.
He will formally take the title of “Kir”, after the turbaning ceremony, becoming the fourth member of the Dabre clan to ascend to the seat, previously held by his late father, Ali Dabre, and his two elder brothers of blessed memory, Uthman Ali Dabre II and Mohamed Ali Dabre III.
This transition is immensely significant, as the Bissa meticulously uphold their cherished heritage by observing rituals surrounding a new traditional leader’s installation.
As they grieve Kir Dabre III’s loss and honour his distinguished reign, the community will reverently welcome Salisu Ali Dabre IV’s new era with great hopes.
The dual ceremony poignantly showcases the Bissa chieftaincy’s resilience, honouring the past while embracing the future, ensuring traditions transcend profound moments of transition.