The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to restoring lasting peace in the conflict-ridden town of Bawku and its surrounding areas in the Upper East Region.
Otumfuo’s comment comes on the back of recent efforts to resolve the protracted Bawku chieftaincy dispute, which has been complicated by deep-seated historical and communal tensions.
Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the UK Advanced Command and Staff Course at the Manhyia Palace, the Asantehene expressed confidence that recent mediation talks with the feuding factions will yield positive results.
He emphasized the critical role of peace in fostering development and the responsibility of traditional authorities to facilitate conflict resolution.
“We need peace to develop. My duty, together with the traditional authority, is to make sure that there is peace everywhere. Therefore, we make sure that we adjudicate issues when there are conflicts so that the government can also have peace to do its work,” Otumfuo stated.
He added, “Recently, there have been some communal conflicts within the upper part of Ghana, closer to Burkina Faso (Bawku), but we are putting in every effort to ensure there is lasting peace.”
The Asantehene’s mediation efforts, which began in earnest in 2023, have involved engaging key stakeholders from the Kusasi and Mamprusi communities to address the chieftaincy dispute at the heart of the conflict.
The conflict in Bawku, a border town according to analysts, is increasingly becoming vulnerable to spillover effects from regional insecurity in Burkina Faso.
Source: Ghanaweb