The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, presented the report on the mediation he led to help resolve the chieftaincy conflict in Bawku to President John Dramani Mahama.

The report contained recommendations by the king on how the state should proceed to help bring lasting peace to Bawku, which has been devastated by the conflict for decades, including identifying the person who is the legitimate ruler of Bawku.

Before giving his recommendations, the king gave a history of how the conflict started, the demands made by the various factions in the conflict, and how a consensus was reached.

He noted that his recommendation was not a declaration of who was at fault in the conflict, stating that, “I’m here to present the facts as they are so we can have peace. I’m not here to give a judgment as to who was right or wrong. The report should bind all of us. I have explained to the various parties that it was mediation, not arbitration.”

Following that, this GhanaWeb article will look at the main points from the report highlighted by the Asantehene, which are supposed to form the basis to reconcile the factions in the conflict — the Kusasis and the Mamprusis.

Who is the Chief of Bawku?

The Asantehene’s mediation concluded that Zugraan Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, the Kusasi enskinned Bawku Naaba, is the legitimate ruler of the area, as per the articles of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

He, therefore, asked the state to enforce the laws of the country that recognise Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II as the overlord of Bawku and urged Nayiri Naa Bohagu Abdulai Mahami Sheriga, who enskinned a chief for Bawku, Seidu Abagare, to respect the law.

“I have impressed upon my brother Nayiri to accept that recognition by law in appreciation of the enduring brotherhood that has existed between our two kingdoms, to ensure lasting peace and eliminate the national and international security threats that my brother himself is so concerned about. I have been candid with my brother Nayiri that the purported enskinment of Mr Seidu Abagare as Bawku Naba can’t stand. I believe my brother Nayiri has come to terms with the difficulties that we have posed to achieve the lasting peace he desires,” he said.



He added, “I recommend my brother Nayiri accept the law as presently constituted, recognising Asigri Abugrago Azoka as the chief of Bawku and head chief of the Kusasi traditional area. We chiefs, no matter how exalted, do not live above the Constitution of Ghana and the law duly enacted and affirmed by the court; accordingly, the law which recognises Asigri Abugrago Azoka must be enforced by the government of Ghana until it is lawfully changed in accordance with the 1992 Constitution or reviewed by the Supreme Court of Ghana.”

The demands of the overlord of Mamprusi:

The Asantehene, while giving details of the report, also disclosed the demands made by the ruler of Mamprugu, Nayiri Naa Bohagu Abdulai Mahami Sheriga, including the transfer of some Kusasi areas to become part of his kingdom.

He said that the Nayiri indicated that the people in these areas, which included Bawku, preferred to be part of his kingdom.

“Essentially, he (the Nayiri) asked for a number of towns in the Kusasi area to be transferred to him to enskin. The impression created was that those towns would prefer to be under the Nayiri, essentially. The request was to have some of the towns brought under the jurisdiction of the Nayiri,” the Asantehene said.

Bawku Conflict: Details of Asantehene's final mediation session

The king of Asanteman, however, stated that after engaging the chiefs of the areas requested by the Nayiri, it was clear that the law was not on his side.

“I decided to engage the chiefs of those towns. After meeting the various chiefs of the towns and communities affected by the withdrawal of recognition following the implementation of the Governor-General’s White Paper in 1957, on the recommendations of the Referring Committee, the withdrawal of the recognition location by the NLC Decree 112, MP, and PNDC Law 75, I have concluded that there has been significant reconciliation among the various Kusasis and Mamprusis in all the other towns.

“Bawku was mentioned in the proposed terms of settlement of the Nayiri as one of the towns that the Mamprusis wanted to be given to the Nayiri. Unfortunately, the law as it stands now makes Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II the lawful chief of Bawku, and so it is impossible legally to do any such (sic) exercise,” he said.



The Nayiri’s Concessions:

The Asantehene indicated that despite the Nayiri’s demand, he agreed to make some concessions in the interest of peace.

“The Nayiri detested that development and found it most unfortunate that such bloodshed should occur among his children. He, therefore, sought an amicable compromise to end the feud and restore lasting peace. He said, in part, ‘be that as it may, in the interest of co-existence, peace and human dignity, my proposed solution and concessions are premised on the request from your Royal Majesty that I cede part of my jurisdiction in the Bawku traditional area to the Kusasi tribe, with the hope that a lasting and enduring peaceful resolution of the Bawku conflict will be achieved for all parties.’

“The Nayiri has been clear in his mind that his decision to make concessions has been a difficult one, but added that, nonetheless, guided by ancestral wisdom, commitment to peace and respect for your Majesty’s tireless efforts, I have chosen the path of conciliation not out of weakness but as a testament to Mamprugu’s strength, dignity and unwavering commitment to the well-being of all communities in the Bawku Traditional Area,” he said.

The fate of the Mamprusis' enskinned Bawku Naaba:

The Asantehene also recommended that Seidu Abagare, the Bawku Naaba enskinned by the Nayiri, should be reassigned or live in Bawku as a private citizen and not as a chief.

Otumfuo disclosed that he previously intervened to stop the arrest of Seidu Abagare, but the time has come for him (Abagare) to move on.

“I have, from the inception, restrained both governments from effecting the arrest of Mr Seidu Abagare out of respect for my brother, the Nayiri.

“The final resolution of the Bawku matters requires that Mr Seidu Abagare be recalled to Nalerigu by the Nayiri to be reassigned to play another traditional role at the Palace of the Nayiri, assisted by the State. Alternatively, he may choose to stay in Bawku as an ordinary citizen of the community but not to pose as Bawku Naba,” he said.

BAI/AE

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