The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on Monday held a face-to-face meeting between the two rival factions in the long-running Bawku chieftaincy dispute, marking what palace sources describe as the final stage of his mediation efforts.
The meeting, held at the Jubilee Hall of Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, brought together representatives of the Mamprusi and Kusasi groups for their first joint engagement under the Asantehene’s mediation after months of separate consultations with both sides.
The Mamprusi delegation was led by the Paramount Chief of Tarana and spokesperson for the Nayiri, Chief Tarana John Wuni Grumah, who represented the Nayiri and Overlord of Mamprugu, Naa Bohugu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga. The Kusasi delegation, on the other hand, was led by the Paramount Chief of Pusiga, Naba Tambis Baalug, representing the Bawku Naba, Zugraan Asigri Aburgrago Azoka II.
Former parliamentary majority leader, Cletus Avoka, acted as spokesperson for the Kusasi side, while Dr. Issah spoke for the Mamprusi delegation. The delegations were made up of chiefs, lawyers, academics, opinion leaders and youth representatives from both traditional areas.
According to a statement from the Office of the Asantehene, the meeting was conducted in a calm and respectful atmosphere, with both parties acknowledging their shared heritage and expressing a common desire for peace in Bawku and its surrounding communities.
Addressing the delegations, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II commended both sides for what he described as their “maturity and civility” throughout the process and reminded them that regardless of the outcome, peaceful coexistence remained unavoidable.
He urged leaders of both factions to begin preparing their followers to accept the outcome of the mediation process and to commit fully to ending the cycle of violence that has plagued the area for decades.
The Asantehene disclosed that he would submit a comprehensive report and recommendations to President John Dramani Mahama in the coming days and expressed hope that the President would act swiftly to convene a broader meeting of stakeholders to formally announce the outcome.
The Bawku conflict has claimed several lives over the years and continues to affect social cohesion and economic activity in the Upper East Region.
The Office of the Asantehene described the joint session as a critical step towards a lasting settlement.
