Accra: President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday received the Bawku Conflict Mediation Report from Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and assured that government would announce its definitive position on the report within 24 hours. "And I can assure him that government will look at this report and, within the next 24 hours, issue a statement on its definitive position," the President said.
According to Ghana News Agency, President Mahama expressed his gratitude to Otumfuo for his patience and diligence over the months in mediating what he described as a complex and seemingly intractable conflict between two important ethnic groups in the country. He recalled that when he assumed office from his predecessor, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, security briefings indicated that Otumfuo had been invited to serve as the sole mediator in the Bawku conflict. The President confirmed that he visited the Asantehene to verify the status of the mediation, which Otumfuo had accepted.
President Mahama noted that although the mediation had been lengthy, the complexity of the Bawku case required time and patience to thoroughly engage all parties, establish the facts, and arrive at recommendations. He reiterated that the Bawku process was a mediation, not an arbitration, emphasizing the goal of reconciling the Kusasi and Mamprusi sides rather than determining right or wrong.
He stressed that the conflict was not winnable militarily, as no side could defeat the other. President Mahama highlighted Bawku's strategic importance due to its location in the extreme north-eastern corner of the country, close to Burkina Faso, where terrorist armed groups were operating. National security briefings consistently emphasized the urgency of restoring peace to Bawku to safeguard Ghana's northern borders.
The President observed that Bawku had the potential to be a vibrant commercial center and had historically served as a trade hub. However, the prolonged conflict had reversed the town's fortunes, causing teachers, doctors, and other public servants to avoid postings or leave the area. "We have suspended the posting of national service personnel to Bawku because we cannot guarantee their safety," the President said.
He expressed hope that the National Peace Council, the National House of Chiefs, Otumfuo, and religious bodies would continue engagement between the Na Yiri and the Bawku Naaba to achieve reconciliation. President Mahama commended Otumfuo for his honorable service to the nation, describing him as a national asset.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II earlier presented the full report live on national television via GTV and other platforms, providing historical context to the Bawku chieftaincy conflict, including judicial and political rulings. The report confirmed Zugran Asigri Abugrago Azoka II as the rightful Chief of Bawku and Paramount Chief of the Kasaug Traditional Area, as declared by the Supreme Court of Ghana.
Present at the event were Vice President Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, the National Chief Imam.