The Bawku Question: Situation, risk and the imperative for lasting peace
A new mediation report by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II offers a path forward for Bawku, a region long plagued by conflict. The Asantehene presented his findings to President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, urging a shift from ethnic divisions to shared development. The proposal comes as prolonged unrest continues to stifle progress in the area.
Bawku has suffered for years under cycles of mistrust and violence. The ongoing chieftaincy dispute has weakened social bonds, deepened poverty, and eroded faith in state institutions. Despite past mediation attempts, strategic misinformation and insecurity persist, leaving the region trapped in instability.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has modernised traditional dispute resolution methods to address the crisis. His report calls for a unified peace framework, blending state authority, traditional leadership, and citizen involvement. The government has responded with a detailed plan: joint security patrols, permanent police and military posts, and fast-tracked reconstruction grants. The proposal also includes funding for community projects, compensation for victims, and local peace committees led by traditional leaders and youth. Psychosocial support and reconciliation training aim to rebuild trust, while a multi-stakeholder body will oversee progress. A dedicated Bawku Revitalisation Fund is expected to deliver visible improvements in infrastructure, jobs, and economic growth. Beyond local efforts, broader security threats loom. Jihadist activity in neighbouring countries risks spilling into Ghana’s north-eastern corridor. The report stresses that ethnic tensions must give way to a collective fight against poverty and extremism.
The mediation report now awaits formal endorsement as both a cultural agreement and a national peace strategy. If adopted, the plan would combine constitutional governance with traditional conflict resolution. Success depends on accountability, citizen participation, and sustained investment in security and development.
