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Otumfuo to Begin Mediation in Bawku Conflict from April 28 to May 1
Otumfuo to Begin Mediation in Bawku Conflict from April 28 to May 1
By: Abigail | 2 mins read
The Manhyia Palace has set April 28 to May 1, 2025, for the resumption of mediation efforts by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to help resolve the protracted conflict in Bawku.
A press release from the Palace dated April 15 confirmed that the mediation sessions will be hosted in Kumasi, at the Manhyia Palace, with key stakeholders expected to participate.
This development follows recent remarks by former President John Mahama, who assured the public that the peace dialogue led by Otumfuo would continue this week.
Speaking at a graduation event at the Ghana Military Academy on Friday, April 11, Mahama revealed that the Asantehene had committed to returning to the process after a brief trip abroad.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has appealed to all factions involved in the Bawku conflict to lend their full cooperation to the dialogue process, in hopes of paving the way for sustainable peace.
His track record in peacebuilding and conflict resolution has earned him nationwide respect, and many view his leadership as pivotal to ending the tensions in the troubled area.
The renewed mediation efforts come on the heels of fresh violence in Bawku, where a recent clash between security personnel and residents claimed the life of a young man, Fuseini Iddrisu.
The Ghana Police Service reported that five individuals—among them a police officer and an immigration officer—suffered gunshot wounds and are currently receiving treatment at various health facilities.
Additionally, property damage was recorded, with two police vehicles, a rented police residence in Binduri, and homes of some police officers reportedly destroyed.
The upcoming dialogue sessions are expected to bring together traditional leaders, security officials, and community representatives as part of efforts to find a lasting solution to the conflict. In response to this, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, led a high-powered team of operations, investigation, and intelligence officers to Bawku in the Upper East Region to assess the security situation on the ground.
About the conflict
The Bawku conflict is a long-standing ethnic and chieftaincy dispute between the Mamprusi and Kusasi groups in Ghana's Upper East Region. Its roots trace back to colonial policies that favored Mamprusi chiefs for the Bawku skin, a traditional leadership position.
After Ghana's independence in 1957, the Kusasi began asserting claims to the skin, citing demographic majority and political support. This struggle has led to cycles of violence but peace and calm was restored for some months. However, in recent years, the conflict has escalated, with sporadic clashes and targeted attacks.
The escalation which started in January 2025 was triggered by the return of Alhaji Seidu Abagre, a parallel chief installed by the Nayiri in Nalerigu in 2022. After being forced into exile due to an arrest warrant, he returned to Bawku in November 2024 following the warrant's dismissal by a High Court in Kumasi.
