Enforce Law Recognising Bawku Naba to Secure Peace – Otumfuo

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has identified the strict enforcement of Ghana’s existing laws recognising Asigri Abugrago Azorka II as the lawful Bawku Naba as the single most important step toward restoring lasting peace in Bawku and the wider Kusasi traditional area.

Presenting his Bawku Mediation Report to government officials at the Jubilee House, Otumfuo emphasised that no chief or traditional authority is above the Constitution or the rulings of the courts, stressing that peace cannot be achieved without firm respect for the rule of law.

He noted that laws duly enacted and upheld by the Supreme Court remain binding and must be enforced until they are lawfully amended or reviewed.

The Asantehene explained that his recommendation followed extensive consultations with key stakeholders, including the Nayiri of Mamprugu, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, the Bawku Naba, and other traditional leaders, as part of efforts to find a durable solution to the long-running conflict between Kusasi and Mamprusi groups.

According to Otumfuo, the legal position on the Bawku chieftaincy has been conclusively settled through PNDC Law 75, the 1992 Constitution, and multiple Supreme Court decisions, all of which affirm the Bawku Naba as the head chief with jurisdiction over the Kusasi traditional area.

He said repeated attempts to reopen or challenge the matter have been definitively closed by the courts and that pursuing arrangements that contradict settled law would only prolong instability.

While acknowledging the historical connections of the Mamprugu Kingdom to lands in the Bawku area, the Asantehene stressed that current legal realities make it untenable to advance claims to the Bawku skin that run counter to established judicial rulings.

Otumfuo further revealed that the Nayiri has indicated a willingness to make difficult concessions in the interest of peace, a move he described as commendable but one that must remain consistent with the law and existing legal authority.

He warned that the persistent failure to enforce the lawful status of the Bawku Naba continues to fuel insecurity, describing the situation as an escalating national security concern that demands decisive, lawful action by the state.