The Paramount Chief of Gukpegu Traditional Area, Naa Alhassan Abdulai, has on Wednesday October 12, 2022, enskinned, a 43 years old American Entrepreneur Ife Bell Tipag’ya as ‘Zo-Simli Naa’ II, of Tamale, the Northern Regional capital.
Naa Ife Bell’s enskinment took place at the premises of Gukpegu Naa’s Palace in Tamale and was witnessed by several dignitaries including the Northern Regional Minister Alhaji Alhassan Shani Sayibu, the Mayor of Tamale, Sule Salifu, staffs of the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly and some chiefs and people of the Gukpegu traditional area. After the enskinment, the Zo-Simli Naa was escorted to her palace to formally assume her role as Chief of Zo-simili, meaning ‘Chief of Friendship’.
She succeeded her predecessor, Dr Susan J. Herlin, who was given the title Zo-Simli Naa I, on July 25, 1995 by the Chiefs and People of the Tamale Traditional Area to acknowledge the role she and others have played in promoting the sister cities relationship between Tamale and Louisville in 1979.
Dr Herlin became a symbol of this friendship, which has been growing ever since. The late Zo-Simili Naa passed away in Louisville, United States of America, on May 21, 2014.
The newly enskinned Zo-Simili Naa II, until her elevation was an international leader with 15 years’ experience delivering measurable results working with organizations, communities and educational institutions worldwide.
Addressing the media after her coronation, Naa Ife Bell II, expressed her gratitude to the chief and people of Gukpegu Traditional Area and also pledged to continue the legacy of her predecessor.
“There are four main pillars I want to focus on as Zo-Simili Naa, education and leadership, wellbeing of the people, culture and community and business innovations. So for me what I see as bringing forward this relationship has been 40 years in continuation of her work,” she noted.
The paramount chief of Gupkegu Traditional Area, Naa Alhassan Abdulai, whose remarks was delivered on his behalf by his secretary Mohammed Rashad after the enskinment, warned people who portrayed themselves as Zo-Simili Naa on social media to desist from the act.
He indicated that, Gukpe Naa is the only chief the overlord of Dagbon has mandated to enskin a Zo-Simili Naa of Tamale, hence people should disregard the self-acclaimed Zo-Simili Naa.
“We have only one Zo-Simili Naa and that is the Zo-Simili Naa the paramount chief of Gukpegu Naa Alhassan has installed today and so apart from Gupke Naa’s Zo-Simili Naa we don’t have any Zo-Simili Naa in Ghana, he stated.
Story By: Alhassan Yakubu
