Buipewura Jinapor II Paramount Chief of the Buipewura Traditional Council in the Savannah Region has been elevated to the upper echelon of Ghana’s National House of Chiefs as the Vice President of the House in an election held on Friday 22nd November, 2024 in Kumasi at the National House of Chiefs.
Meanwhile incumbent president of the house Sefwhi Anwhiasuhene Ogyeahoho has been retained as the president of the house after winning overwhely against Dormaahene.
The National House of Chiefs is established by Article 274 (1) of the 1992 Constitution and Section 1 (1) of the Chieftaincy Act 2008, Act 759. The House derives its Mandate from Article 271 of the 1992 Constitution and Section 1 of the Chieftaincy Act 2008 Act 759.
The National House of Chiefs exists to exercise appellate jurisdiction in any cause on matters affecting chieftaincy which has been determined by the Regional House of Chiefs in a region. The House under Article 273 (5) of the 1992 Constitution also exercises original jurisdiction in certain causes or matters affecting chieftaincy.
Buipewura Jinapor II as the vice president of the National House of Chiefs in Ghana has several roles, including the Research and Traditional Affairs Committee of the house.
The vice president is an ex-officio member of the Research and Traditional Affairs Committee, which is made up of vice presidents from all Regional Houses of Chiefs. The committee reviews Chieftaincy Declaration Forms and advises the House on petitions.
The vice president of the National House of Chiefs, along with the president also directs the affairs of the National House of Chiefs.
The vice presidential position was contested by HRM Buipewura Jinapor II, Nangodi Naaba Naab Kosom Asaga Yelzoya II, Okotwasuo K.O Agyekum III and Nana Soglo Alloh IV.
At end of the vote, Buipewura won the vice-presidential position by pulling 54 votes out of a total of 72 votes cast whilst Nangodi Naaba pulled 4 votes, Okotwasuo pulled 6 votes and Nana Alloh pulling 9 votes.
Total ballot cast was 72 and total voters were also 72
Buipewura Jinapor II was born on Tuesday, 6th April, 1948 to the Great Jira Buipewura Chilipulima I, son of Buipewura Jinapor I, and Kewurche Meyama Ayuwa of blessed memory.
Jira Buipewura Jinapor II, known in his private life as Mahama Abdulai Jinapor, is a pioneering beneficiary of colonial education at East Gonja – Salaga were he attained stanza 4 (sixth Form).
Immediately after completion he taught Damongo, present day Kurabaso JHS and Gindabor respectively, which the current Kongwura Jinkuriga I Paramount chief of Kong Traditional Area is a proud student of Buipewura Jinapor II.
While Buipewura Jinapor II was impacting knowledge, he also discovered Madam Alice Azara Achulo a lifetime partner whom God has blessed them with five children.
In his diversity to explore humanity, in early 1969 Buipewura Jinapor II ventured into politics and became Wenchi west party secretary and later became secretary and personal aid to Former president Dr. K.A Busia.
In fulfilling his childhood passion and ambition, in the early 1970’s, Buipewura Jinapor II joined the Ghana Police Service, where he rosed through the ranks and file of the service and retiring as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP)
Buipewura Jinapor II Served the Ghana Police service for 39years. While in service as a young prince, his passion for tradition and chieftaincy wasn’t abdicated thus, In the late 1980’s he was first enskined as Gbemasewura, few years later he ascended to Salimanwura in 1992 and finally rose to the highest skins of his paramountcy as Buipewura Jinapor II.
On Friday, 13th June, 2008 he was enskined as the paramount chief of Buipe Traditional Area. He is currently 16 years on the Buipe throne and still reigning.
Per the 1930 Constitution of the Gonja Kingdom, the Buipe-wura, who is not divisional chief is most revered, honored and highly respected in the Gonja Traditional Area. The reason being that he is the customary and traditional father of the YAGBONWURA, and therefore in rank Buipe-wura is placed on the same level as the YAGBON-WURA.
His town is Buipe, where the royal mausoleum for NDEWURA JAKPA is situated and the Buipe-wura is the caretaker of the royal Burial Grounds.
It will be noticed that the BUIPE-WURA is the Traditional president of the Gonja State Executive Council, on the deceased of a reigning YAGBON-WIRA they have to choose a new paramount chief from among the seven members of the State Executive Council, over which the KAGBAPE-WURA presides in the absence of the BUIPE-WURA.
When the nomination of the YAGBONG-WURA elect is accomplished the said Council conveys the decision to the Buipe-wura by the Kagbape-wura. The Buipe-wura has no option to reject by customary practice and usage of the Gonjas.
The Buipe-wura has the traditional right to confirm the election of YAGBON-WURA but the Buipe-wura and the YAGBON-WURA are by custom never to meet face to face, thereafter the installation of the YAGBON-WURA.
This taboo has once been broken when the Buipe-wura, who was then old and blind, caused great astonishment, when he unavoidably attended the Yapei Enquiry into the constitution and organization of the NGBANYE kingdom, held in 1930.
At this meeting he was careful to sit far away as possible from the YAGBON-WURA and when he rose to give evidence, even though blind, a large cloth was held in his left side so that the YAGBON-WURA could not look at him or see each other throughout the conference.
The reason for this taboo is that morally that are by custom to pay homage and give reverence to each other on equal terms and conditions; but to avoid these, custom prohibits them to meet in person in any occasion. The custom continues to the present day in Gonja.
PORTFOLIOS & CAREER OF BUIPEWURA JINAPOR II
1. Classroom Teacher 1967
2. Ghana Police service 1970
3. Over three decades as Traditional leader/ruler
4. Over a decade as Member of National house of chiefs standing committee
6. Chairman of Eminent chiefs-SRHC
7. Immediate past Vice President of SRHC
8. President of Buipe Traditional council etc
Jira Buipewura Jinapor II, has five (5) children of whom some are scholars in academia, law, business and politics.
He is the father of the history making Jinapor brothers in Ghana’s respected Parliament. John Abdulai Jinapor MP for Yapei/Kusawgu and Lawyer Samuel Abdulai Jinapor MP, Damongo Constituency and Minister For Lands and Natural Resources.
