At the graduation parade of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College on Friday, April 11, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama reiterated his administration’s dedication to restoring lasting peace in Bawku, a town in Ghana’s Upper East Region that has been plagued by recurrent ethnic and chieftaincy-related conflicts.
President Mahama announced that the peace mediation process led by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is set to resume next week upon the Asantehene’s return from a brief visit abroad. He expressed confidence in Otumfuo’s leadership and the commitment of all stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue aimed at resolving the longstanding conflict.
The Bawku conflict, rooted in a protracted chieftaincy dispute between the Kusasi and Mamprusi ethnic groups, has resulted in recurrent violence, leading to loss of lives and displacement of residents. The mediation process, initiated by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, seeks to bring together the feuding factions to foster understanding and chart a path toward lasting peace.
President Mahama’s announcement underscores the urgency of addressing the conflict and the reliance on traditional leadership to facilitate reconciliation. The resumption of the mediation process is seen as a critical step toward ending the violence and promoting stability in Bawku.
The government has also imposed a curfew in Bawku and surrounding areas, restricting movement between 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., in an effort to curb further clashes. Authorities continue to appeal for calm as security forces work to restore stability in the area.
As the mediation process resumes, there is cautious optimism that sustained dialogue and the involvement of respected traditional leaders will pave the way for a peaceful resolution to the Bawku conflict.
