The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is today expected to bring an end to the protracted Bawku chieftaincy dispute as he announces his final ruling at the Manhyia Palace — a pivotal step in national efforts to restore lasting peace to one of Ghana’s most volatile areas.
Otumfuo was appointed by President John Dramani Mahama earlier this year to lead an independent mediation process aimed at resolving the decades-old conflict, which has claimed numerous lives and destabilised the Bawku municipality for years.
The Asantehene began formal mediation in April, hosting representatives of the opposing factions from April 28 to 30 to rekindle dialogue. Although the discussions were briefly suspended, talks resumed on May 13, during which Otumfuo observed that sustained engagement had helped foster a period of relative calm in the area.
For years, Bawku has been gripped by recurring violence, sporadic attacks, and security-enforced curfews. The conflict has disrupted livelihoods, deepened community divisions, and underscored the urgent need for a durable peace settlement.
According to the Manhyia Palace, today’s sitting marks the culmination of months of intensive consultation and peace-building work.
Across Bawku, residents and stakeholders are anxiously hopeful that the Asantehene’s final pronouncement will signal the beginning of a new era of stability, reconciliation, and development for the municipality.
By Nana Achiaa Aboagye
