Delegations representing the Kusasi and Mamprusi ethnic groups arrived at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi yesterday for the final phase of the mediation process, headed by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, today, December 1, 2025. This decisive meeting aims to resolve the decades-old chieftaincy dispute in the Bawku area of the Upper East Region.
The arrival of the two factions has generated high expectations among Kumasi residents that the intervention by the country’s revered monarch will bring a final and lasting end to the protracted conflict. Should the mediation prove successful, it is anticipated to bring relief to the people of Bawku and reaffirm the critical role of traditional authority in modern conflict resolution.
The mediation process, which began with separate meetings with both factions in April, was temporarily suspended following the passing of Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, the Paramount Chief of Mampong. With the traditional rites now concluded, the Asantehene has re-engaged the process with urgency.
A statement from Manhyia Palace Chief of Staff, Mr. Kofi Badu, conveyed His Majesty’s praise for both sides’ positive approach to the mediation thus far and appealed to all concerned to avoid any actions that could jeopardize progress toward a lasting solution.
The Bawku conflict is rooted in colonial-era disputes over land and chieftaincy, with the Kusasi asserting their status as original settlers and the Mamprusi claiming historical entitlement. These competing narratives have fueled periodic eruptions of violence over the years, notably in the 1980s, 2000s, and 2022, resulting in deaths, displacement, and the collapse of civic life. In July, the government adopted a strategy of peace enforcement—intensifying ground operations and aerial surveillance by the military—to forcefully restore order.
This, combined with the dialogue efforts to address the root cause, has led to relative peace in the area, which remains under a dusk-to-dawn curfew.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
