The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has called on all stakeholders involved in the long-running Bawku conflict to fully accept and comply with the outcomes of a mediation report he has submitted to President John Dramani Mahama, stressing that the process was purely mediatory and not a judicial exercise.
Presenting the report at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, December 16, Otumfuo explained that from the outset, all parties were informed that the exercise would not involve the allocation of blame or the delivery of verdicts. Rather, the focus was to facilitate dialogue, document the positions of the various factions, and propose pathways toward sustainable peace.
“I did not come to determine who is right or wrong. My task was to lay out the facts as they emerged so that peace can prevail. Nearly two and a half years ago, your predecessor invited me to intervene in a conflict in Bawku that had escalated into a serious national security concern,” the Asantehene stated.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II emphasised that the findings and recommendations contained in the report should be treated as binding by all parties involved, noting that adherence to the outcomes is essential for lasting stability in the area.
“I have presented the facts as they are, and they must be respected by everyone involved. My role was to guide discussions and capture the concerns raised by all sides in the interest of peace,” he added.
He explained that the report was being formally handed over to the President for careful consideration and for the government to determine the appropriate steps toward implementation.
“By the grace of God, we are gathered here today to submit the report of the assignment you entrusted to us. We respectfully present it to Your Excellency for consideration and for any action your government deems necessary,” Otumfuo said.
The Asantehene also expressed appreciation to both President Mahama and former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the trust placed in him to lead the mediation process. He acknowledged that the mandate was renewed shortly after President Mahama assumed office earlier this year, allowing the talks to continue without interruption.
Reiterating the scope of his assignment, Otumfuo stressed that the exercise was mediation, not arbitration, and that the parties had been clearly briefed on this distinction throughout the process.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was appointed in early 2025 by President Mahama to spearhead mediation efforts aimed at resolving the decades-old chieftaincy dispute between the Kusasi and Mamprusi factions in Bawku. The mediation process began in April 2025, with separate engagements held with the opposing sides, and resumed in May after a brief pause. The initiative has since contributed to a period of relative calm in the historically volatile municipality.
The submission of the report comes at a time of heightened security interventions in Bawku. Acting on the advice of the National Security Council, the government has extended a curfew in the municipality and surrounding areas from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am. In addition, the Ministry of the Interior has enforced a ban on the possession of arms and offensive weapons as part of broader efforts to stabilise the area, while the President reviews the mediation recommendations and considers the next steps toward lasting peace.
