Asantehene presents Bawku peace mediation report to Mahama

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has formally presented the Bawku Peace Mediation Report to President John Dramani Mahama as part of renewed efforts to achieve lasting peace in the conflict-prone township.

The presentation took place on Tuesday, December 16, at the Jubilee House during a ceremony attended by traditional rulers, key stakeholders and senior government officials. Proceedings began with the arrival of chiefs and invited guests, followed by the Chief of Staff, the Asantehene and President Mahama.

The programme opened with the national anthem and an opening prayer, after which the Director of State Protocol delivered introductory remarks. The Minister of the Interior then gave a welcome address before the Asantehene, who led the high-level mediation process, delivered his remarks and formally handed over the comprehensive report to the President.

In his address, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II emphasised that the outcome of the mediation must be binding on all parties, stressing the need for collective commitment to the recommendations contained in the report.

Presenting the document, the Asantehene clarified that the process he led was strictly a mediation exercise and not an arbitration, adding that the report was not intended to apportion blame.

“I’m here to present the facts as they are for us to have peace. I’m not here to give a judgment as to who was right or wrong. The report should bind on all of us. I have explained to the various parties. It was mediation, not arbitration,” he stated.

He also expressed gratitude to President Mahama for the confidence reposed in him to facilitate dialogue and help resolve the long-standing conflict.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was initially appointed by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and later retained by President Mahama to lead mediation efforts aimed at resolving the decades-old chieftaincy dispute in Bawku, which has disrupted social and economic life in the area. The mediation process began in April 2025, with the Asantehene holding separate consultations with representatives of the feuding factions as a confidence-building measure.

Although the talks were briefly suspended, they resumed in May 2025 and have since contributed to a period of relative calm in the municipality.

The presentation of the mediation report marks a significant milestone in the peace process as government and stakeholders consider its recommendations toward achieving a sustainable resolution to the Bawku conflict.