President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled a GH¢1 billion Restoration Fund aimed at accelerating reconstruction and development efforts in six districts within the Bawku enclave of the Upper East Region.

The fund, which will be rolled out over a three-year period, is intended to support infrastructure renewal and community development as stability gradually returns to the area. According to the President, a high-powered committee led by the Minister for Finance will oversee the management and disbursement of the resources, with the Majority Leader in Parliament serving as a member.

The announcement was made on Tuesday at the Presidency in Accra when members of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs paid a courtesy visit to the President. The meeting focused on consolidating peace and deepening collaboration between the government and traditional authorities in the Bawku area, which has experienced prolonged unrest.

During the engagement, the chiefs expressed appreciation for the government’s backing of mediation efforts spearheaded by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. They acknowledged that the traditional peace process has significantly reduced tensions and helped rebuild trust among previously divided communities.

President Mahama observed that the conflict claimed approximately 119 lives, describing the figure as a sobering reminder of the urgency to safeguard the current calm. He stressed that after years of violence, Bawku deserves a new chapter defined by healing, growth and opportunity.

The chiefs conveyed confidence that the prevailing peace will pave the way for meaningful development, improved social harmony and stronger cooperation between the state and traditional leadership. They pledged their continued support for initiatives aimed at maintaining stability in the region.

Background

Efforts to resolve the Bawku conflict have spanned multiple administrations, highlighting a shared national interest in restoring peace. Under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Asantehene was entrusted with leading a traditional mediation process to address entrenched chieftaincy and ethnic disputes.

Since assuming office, President Mahama has maintained and strengthened support for the Otumfuo-led initiative. The mediation is widely regarded as instrumental in calming hostilities and laying the groundwork for sustainable peace and development in the Bawku area.