His Royal Highness, Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, was yesterday given a rousing traditional welcome at the Jubilee House, where he was enstooled and bestowed with the Gadangbe Chief title, “Nii Yehowah Da”, by the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs.
The ceremony, which added colour and splendour to the visit, was attended by senior government officials, a delegation from the UK High Commission, traditional leaders and schoolchildren.
In his welcome address, President John Dramani Mahama applauded the long-standing historical relations between Ghana and the United Kingdom, noting that the two nations had been particularly close since independence due to shared values.
“We have been particularly close to the United Kingdom because of the values that we share. Shared values of respect for human rights, shared values of democratic governance and values of humanity.
And that continues to keep our two nations close together,” President Mahama stated.
The President elaborated on the deep connections, pointing to Ghana’s jurisprudence and constitutional framework.
“Our jurisprudence is based on UK law, common law. And it gives Ghana an advantage because I believe that jurisprudence based on common law is easier to understand and people have more confidence that they will get justice from that jurisprudence,” he said.
Global order
Reflecting on the global landscape, President Mahama used the occasion to advocate a multilateral approach to world affairs, citing the climate crisis and recent conflicts as pressing issues.
“Unfortunately, recent actions by some countries acting more in a unilateral manner than multilateral are threatening the multilateral global order.
“The invasion of Ukraine and other conflicts all over the world, the Gaza crisis and the deaths of more than 60,000 people in the Gaza, these are all things that don't belong to the 21st Century,” he said.
He called for new partnerships, describing it as a “coalition of the willing,” and identified the UK as a natural partner for Ghana.
The President also praised the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, describing it as a “motivator of our young people.”
“It instills in them discipline. It instills in them creativity, and it instills in them ambition to achieve,” he said.
President Mahama finally explained the significance of the traditional name conferred on the Royal Visitor: “Yehowah in Gadangbe means God, and Da means big.
So, it means that God is mighty, God is big. And Nii is the prefix for a chief… it means you are the chief of God is great.”
Duke of Edinburgh humbled
For his part, Prince Edward expressed profound gratitude for the “extraordinarily generous welcome” and the honour bestowed upon him.
“I'm feeling very humbled standing here now… thank you for that extraordinarily generous welcome. And thank you for the title that you have bestowed upon me,” he said, adding that he would need to write it down to remember.
He began his remarks by conveying greetings from the British Monarch, stating, “First and most important thing I do, is I bring greetings from His Majesty the King and my brother to all of you and to the people of Ghana, a country that he knows well, whose membership of the Commonwealth he takes very, very seriously.”
Acknowledging the legacy of his father, Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward said, “I'm trying to follow in a great man's shoes.
And my father, who had this title, I have a lot to try to live up to.”
He emphasised the importance of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, which he said was “above all, the thing that I probably try to do the most with, to give young people an opportunity to develop and to find their passion, purpose, and place in the world.”
Prince Edward also spoke of the “extraordinary shared history and a shared heritage” between Britain and Ghana, which the chiefs in attendance understood “only too well.”
He expressed gratitude for the durbar, saying, “I know that my ancestors have been to such durbars before, possibly on a slightly larger scale. But I'm very grateful for this opportunity to be able to meet with you.”
Echoing the President’s sentiments on the bilateral relationship, the Duke said it was founded on “mutual respect for our common prosperity, and to empower the youth of the future.”
He concluded by looking forward to Ghana’s participation in the upcoming Commonwealth Games, stating, “I particularly look forward to seeing Ghana being well represented at the Commonwealth Games next year, when the Commonwealth comes together.”
New title
The Paramount Chief of the Nungua Traditional Area and President of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, King Professor Odaifio Welentsi III, on behalf of the people of Greater Accra, bestowed the traditional name upon the Royal Visitor.
“From the depth of our hearts, we name you Nii Yehowah Da” he proclaimed, explaining that the name meant “God is Great.”
He described the historical bond with the United Kingdom as a "well-established reality," adding that the partnership is now "forward-looking, focusing on areas of mutual benefits, such as trade, education, climate action and sustainable development."
