The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is set to conclude his long-running mediation efforts in the Bawku conflict today, marking a crucial moment in the quest to restore lasting peace to the troubled municipality.
The move comes after months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, stakeholder consultations, and peace dialogues involving traditional leaders, opinion leaders, security agencies, and representatives of the feuding factions in Bawku.
According to sources close to the Manhyia Palace, today’s final mediation meeting is expected to produce a definitive roadmap toward ending the decades-long chieftaincy and ethnic tensions that have led to loss of lives, displacement of residents, and disruption of economic activities in the area.
The Asantehene, widely respected for his conflict-resolution expertise, was invited by the government earlier this year to intervene after multiple attempts at restoring calm in Bawku proved unsuccessful. His involvement has been lauded by civil society groups and residents who see him as a neutral, unifying figure.
Over the past weeks, Otumfuo has urged both factions to prioritise peace over entrenched positions, emphasising that continued conflict only deepens suffering and undermines development in the region.
Today’s concluding session is expected to address outstanding issues that have hindered previous peace agreements. A formal communique is anticipated after the final deliberations.
Many Ghanaians are hopeful that the Asantehene’s intervention — described by some as “the last major push for peace” — will bring an end to one of the country’s most persistent conflicts.
