By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the rising intolerance and disagreements surrounding chieftaincy conflicts in Ghana, emphasizing the pressure it places on the country’s security services.
According to him, conflicts particularly in areas like Bawku, Sampa, and Nkwanta have put a strain on security services, with troops often deployed to maintain peace.
Addressing the national peace council when they paid a courtesy call on him at his residency on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, President Mahama stressed that he is concerned about the proliferation of conflicts in the country.
He expressed shock that traditional areas known for their peaceful coexistence start competing amongst themselves when the ruler passes away.
“It’s surprising to find that traditional areas which have been at peace for years suddenly start competing once a ruler dies”, he noted while calling for peace.
The Bawku conflict, a decades-old dispute between the Kusasi and Mamprusi ethnic groups, has seen various mediation efforts. The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has been leading a mediation process, and his report is set to be presented to President Mahama on December 16, 2025.
