Ghana's Bawku conflict persists a decade after Otumfuo's peace blueprint

A decade after Otumfuo Osei Tutu II presented his mediation report on the Bawku conflict, Ghana's Upper East Region still faces persistent violence. The long-running clashes between Kusasi and Mamprusi groups have resisted government interventions, leaving communities trapped in instability. Now, calls are growing to revive the report as both a cultural agreement and a national roadmap for peace.

In 2013, the Asantehene's mediation report outlined steps to resolve Bawku's ethnic tensions. Some recommendations, like security deployments and peace committees, were partially implemented. Others, such as land dispute resolutions and chieftaincy reforms, saw limited progress. Despite these efforts, clashes continued into 2023, with only modest gains in social cohesion and minimal economic recovery.

The region's prolonged unrest has deepened poverty, weakened trust in institutions, and stalled development. Inflamed by divisive rhetoric and politicised narratives, the conflict now risks further escalation. Experts warn that jihadist threats in neighbouring countries could spill into Ghana's north-eastern border areas. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II's modernisation of traditional dispute resolution offers a potential path forward. His approach blends constitutional governance with indigenous mediation, a model unique to Ghana. But for lasting peace, the report must be adopted as a unified framework, aligning traditional leaders, state agencies, and citizens. A proposed Bawku Revitalisation Fund aims to rebuild infrastructure, restore livelihoods, and kickstart the local economy. Yet success depends on halting the cycles of mistrust and misinformation that have kept the region divided.

The 2013 mediation report remains a critical tool for breaking Bawku's cycle of violence. Its full implementation—backed by a coordinated peace strategy—could bring tangible security, economic revival, and restored confidence in governance. Without decisive action, the region's instability may worsen, threatening both local communities and national stability.