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Asafoatse Christopher Tetteh Nettey II: Bridging heritage, progress in Gbese

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• Asafoatse Christopher Tetteh Nettey II

In the heart of Sonmenaa, Gbese (Gamashi), a new chapter of tradi­tional leadership is unfolding under Asafoatse Christopher Tetteh Nettey II, a man whose life story seamlessly blends the dignity of Ga-Dangme her­itage with the dynamism of modern progress.

More than a custodian of culture, he represents a generation of tra­ditional leaders redefining service through vision, innovation, and com­munity commitment.

Asafoatse Christopher Tetteh Nettey II (sitting) being poured a drink

Early Life and Heritage

Born into the proud lineage of Son­menaa Gbese, Asafoatse Christopher Tetteh Nettey II known in private life as Emmanuel Nii Tetteh Nettey, grew up deeply conscious of the weight of history on his shoulders.

The Nettey family has for gener­ations played pivotal roles in Gbese traditional affairs, particularly through the Asafoatse stool, a sacred inheritance passed down within the Swalaba branch since 1866.

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Asafoatse Christopher Tetteh Nettey II (sitting) mixing the kpoikpoi with soup

This rich cultural backdrop shaped his childhood, instilling in him a profound sense of identity, discipline, and duty to community.

Even as a child, he was drawn to Ga-Dangme traditions, participating in cultural rites and learning from el­ders who impressed upon him the im­portance of heritage as both a source of pride and a compass for life. His early years nurtured the resilience and visionary drive that would later define his leadership journey.

Asafoatse Christopher Tetteh Nettey II sprinkling kpoikpoi in the family house

Education and Professional Path

Determined to carve his own path, Asafoatse Nettey II pursued formal education with passion where he obtained a professional certificate in Cyber Security from Regent Universi­ty College of Science and Technology and is currently advancing his studies in Digital Governance.

His academic pursuits reflect a leader who understands that safe­guarding heritage requires also embracing modern knowledge and technology.

Professionally, he is a self-made in­dustrialist with six years’ experience in the metallic and cable manufac­turing industry.

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According to him, this background exposed him to the challenges of entrepreneurship in Ghana, sharp­ening his problem-solving skills, creativity, and resilience. For him, industry was more than business, it was a school of leadership that taught him accountability, inno­vation, and the value of hard work.

Call to Leadership

On September 3, 2022, he was first enstooled as Abelenkpe Shippi under the au­thority of Gbese Mantse, Nii (Dr) Ayi-Bonte II. Yet his destiny stretched be­yond that role. Following in the footsteps of his legendary predecessor, Asafoatse Christo­pher Brandford Nettey (Captain C.B. Nettey), he answered a spiritual and ancestral call to ascend to the revered Asafoatse Nukpa position of Gbese Sonmenaa.

His ascension was not without con­troversy. For over a decade after the demise of Asafoatse Christopher Akai Nettey, contention brewed between the Nii Doku We and Swalaba factions over succession.

Court cases, injunctions, and dis­putes left the stool vacant and the community divided yet history and custom were on his side.

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Research by renowned historians John Kwadwo Osei-Tutu and John Parker confirmed that the Asafoatse title was a matrilineal inheritance re­served strictly for the descendants of Asafoatse C.B. Nettey of the Swalaba branch.

This unbroken lineage legitimised his ascension and reinforced the integrity of Ga customary law.

Leadership Vision

Today, Asafoatse Nettey II embod­ies a leadership style that balances tradition with modernity. His vision for Gbese Sonmenaa is anchored on three interconnected pillars:

Heritage Preservation: Safeguard­ing Ga-Dangme history, language, and customs through cultural education, festivals, and archival projects.

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Youth Empowerment: Equipping young people with entrepreneurial and digital skills, while instilling pride in their identity and communi­ty.

Community Development: Promot­ing vocational training, supporting local businesses, and championing partnerships to improve livelihoods and infrastructure.

For him, tradition is not static; it must evolve to inspire development. As I often say, “Our history is our foundation, but our development is our destiny.

We must walk together – elders and youth, tradition and innovation, to secure the future we dream of.”

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A Leader of the People

Beyond ceremonial duties, Asafoa­tse Nettey II says he is a hands-on leader who engages directly with res­idents, listens to concerns, and works with stakeholders to solve problems. Known for his boundless energy and creative thinking, he is respected not only as a traditional leader but as a visionary partner in progress.

He tells The Spectator that he is a devoted father of five, and brings the same values of discipline, humil­ity, and service into his family life, instilling in his children the principles that guide his leadership.

Looking Ahead

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In Gbese today, there is renewed optimism. The community sees in Asafoatse Nettey II a leader who is both grounded in heritage and equipped for the challenges of the future. His stewardship symbolises continuity and change which rep­resents the weaving of ancestral wisdom into the fabric of a modern, forward-looking society.

Asafoatse Christopher Tetteh Nettey II says Gbese Sonmenaa stands poised not just to preserve its traditions, but to transform them into living tools of empowerment and development.

“In my hands, the legacy of the Nettey family is not merely remem­bered; it is alive, growing, and lead­ing Gbese into a brighter tomorrow,” he concluded.

By Cliff Ekuful

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Kampakuya Naa Yakubu enskinned Dagbon Regent

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Firing of musketry during the enskinment

The Dagbon Kingdom on Friday witnessed another defining moment in its centuries-old history as Kampakuya Naa Yakubu was formally enskinned as Regent following the passing of the Overlord of Dagbon, Ndan Ya-Na Abukari II.

The traditional ceremony, steeped in the customs and heritage of the Dagomba people, took place at the historic Gbewaa Palace in Yendi in an atmosphere of grief, reverence and hope.

In attendance was President John Dramani Mahama, who in his tribute described the late Overlord as a distinguished traditional ruler whose leadership strengthened peace, unity and development in Dagbon.

Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia also conveyed his condolences to the people of Dagbon.

Also in attendance were chiefs, queen mothers, elders, royal family members, religious leaders and thousands of mourners gathered to witness the installation.

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The enskinment of the Kampakuya Naa as Regent is one of the most significant stages in the transition of leadership in the Dagbon Kingdom. It ensures continuity of authority and the preservation of the kingdom’s customs until a substantive Ya-Na is selected by the kingmakers in accordance with Dagbon tradition.

Friday’s ceremony reflected the resilience of one of Ghana’s oldest traditional kingdoms, where centuries-old customs continue to guide leadership transitions with dignity and order.

The late Ya-Na, Ndan Abukari II, who ascended the skin in 2019, is widely remembered for consolidating peace, unity and reconciliation in Dagbon following years of chieftaincy disputes.

Throughout Yendi, the mood remained solemn as residents lined the streets while traditional drumming, chanting and customary rites echoed through the ancient capital. Men, women and children, mostly dressed in black, paid their respects to a monarch whose reign restored confidence in the kingdom’s future.

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The installation of Kampakuya Naa Yakubu as Regent now places upon him the sacred responsibility of overseeing the affairs of Dagbon during the mourning period while ensuring that the customs and traditions of the kingdom are faithfully upheld ahead of the enskinment.

After a successful enskinment, attention now turns to the traditional processes that will eventually culminate in the selection and enskinment of a new Overlord. Until then, the Regent will serve as the custodian of the Dagbon Kingdom, ensuring that the customs, authority and dignity of one of Africa’s oldest traditional kingdoms remain intact.

From Geoffrey Buta, Yendi

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GHS, UNICEF train 100 health workers as Safety Net Intervention expands in C/R

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The Ghana  Health Service, with UNICEF support, has trained 100  healthcare providers on adolescent-friendly maternal healthcare services as it expands its Safety Net Intervention programme to 44 additional  health facilities in the Central Region.  

The one-day training, held in two sessions, equipped midwives, community health nurses, health information officers and district focal persons with the knowledge and practical skills needed to implement the initiative effectively and improve pregnancy outcomes among pregnant adolescents.  

The Safety Net Intervention is a special initiative that seeks to address health and social challenges associated with adolescent pregnancy with a comprehensive service including antenatal and postnatal care, skilled delivery services, postpartum family planning, home visits and connections to education and social support services.  

By this intervention, the GHS and UNCEF are seeking to mitigate the incidence of adolescent pregnancy, maternal deaths among adolescent girls, neonatal deaths among babies born to adolescent mothers, and child marriage.  

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They are also seeking increased uptake of postpartum family planning among adolescent mothers and improved educational continuity and economic resilience for adolescent girls.  

Mrs Emma Delali Foli, the Central Regional Focal Person for the Safety Net Intervention, explained that pregnant adolescents often faced heightened health risks and limited social support, highlighting the need for specialised healthcare and social interventions.  

She said the intervention was introduced in six districts in the Central Region in 2020 and had expanded steadily over the years to 16 of the region’s 22 districts.  

Following the addition of the 44 new facilities, the programme was now being implemented in 176 health facilities, with a goal of covering all 22 districts in the short possible time, she added.  

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Mrs Foli noted that since its introduction, the programme had benefited more than 5,000 pregnant adolescents in the Central Region, while strengthening collaboration with institutions such as the Department of Social Welfare, the Ghana Education Service, the National Youth Authority and the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU).  

The intervention, she said, had also contributed to increased uptake of postpartum family planning, stronger referral systems, greater access to social protection services and enhanced involvement of caregivers throughout pregnancy and childbirth.  

Mrs Foli indicated that the newly trained health workers were expected to replicate the training at their respective facilities to ensure that other members of the healthcare team were adequately equipped to implement the intervention.  

 “This is new to them and so they have been trained on the concepts, objectives and goals of the Safety Net Intervention. The components of the intervention, as well as the importance of documentation and reporting, have also been emphasised,” she said.-GNA  

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