Bawa Yakubu was the son of a former Gushe-Naa Yakubu. Gushegu is located in the Northern Region of Ghana. His brother Sugri Issah succeeded their father as Gushie-Naa after his death. Following the death of Issah, Yakubu was enskinned Gushie-Naa in February 1971 by the Abdulai Mahama IV, Paramount Chief after using his power as the IGP of Ghana during 1969 to support fire Ya Naa Ya Naa Yakubu Andani II when he was just a regent. A committee then enskinned Naa Abdulai Mahama IV who was later diskinned by the same committee that appointed him. Yakubu had to seek for the kingship of Gushegu from the same Ya Naa Yakubu II whom he had helped his brothers from the Abudu gate fired out of the Gwewaa palace in 1969 paving the way for Mahama IV. When all those Mahama appointed as chiefs during his reign as Ya Naa was announced null and void. He was made the king of Gushegu Dagomba Traditional Area Ya Naa Yakubu Andani and served as the Gushie-Naa until his death in January 2002 just two months before the gruesome murder of Ya Naa Yakubu Andani II.