Asantehene to resume mediation in Bawku Conflict

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, will resume mediation efforts between the feuding Kusasi and Mamprusi factions in the ongoing Bawku conflict starting Monday, April 28, 2025.

The initiative follows a reaffirmation by President John Mahama that the peace process, under the leadership of the Asantehene, remains a key pillar of national efforts to restore calm.

In a statement issued on April 15, the Asantehene confirmed that the mediation sessions will be hosted at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi from April 28 to May 1.

The Bawku conflict, spanning decades, has claimed over 300 lives since November 2021 and severely disrupted socio-economic activities, forcing public sector workers, including teachers and nurses, to flee the area.

Amid renewed violence, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, led a high-powered delegation to Bawku to assess the security situation first-hand.

A statement signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Grace Ansah-Akrofi revealed that a clash last Wednesday resulted in the death of one person, identified as Fuseini Iddrisu, while five others, including a police officer and an immigration officer, sustained gunshot injuries.

The IGP’s visit also included engagements with victims, bereaved families, and security personnel who lost property due to the disturbances, underscoring a heightened national response to the volatile situation.

The Ghana Police Service assured the public of its continued collaboration with the Ghana Armed Forces, traditional authorities, and other stakeholders to restore law and order in Bawku.

Authorities emphasized the need for collective efforts to reclaim stability in the region, where prolonged insecurity threatens to turn Bawku into a “ghost town.”

As mediation resumes and security measures tighten, national hopes rest on the successful facilitation by the Asantehene and the resilience of peace-building institutions.