By: Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
Following the government of Ghana’s formal endorsement of the Asantehene’s mediation report on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, the nation has entered a high-stakes phase of conflict resolution. The report reaffirms Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II as the legitimate Bawku Naba, providing the legal clarity needed to end decades of rival claims. By pairing this strict legal ultimatum with a massive GH¢1 billion Revitalisation Fund, the administration of President John Dramani Mahama is attempting to dismantle the socio-economic grievances that have bled the Northern Frontier for decades. This dual strategy aims to secure the Upper East Region as a vital shield against wider regional instability.
A Legal Line in the Sand
The report, presented by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to President Mahama at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, December 16, clarifies that the era of competing claimants is legally over. By affirming Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II as the sole lawful Bawku Naba, the state is leaning on the supreme weight of the 1992 Constitution and PNDC Law 75.
Addressing the gathering, the Asantehene was absolute in his findings, stating that chiefs, no matter how exalted, do not live above the Constitution of Ghana and the laws duly enacted and affirmed by the courts. He described the recognition of Naba Azoka II as “final and non-negotiable,” demanding that the government “decisively enforce” the existing laws. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Spokesperson to the President, reinforced this in the official government statement, declaring that no individual or group is permitted to contest the Naba’s authority or legitimacy.
The Nalerigu Recall and Political Will
A critical component of the roadmap is the fate of Alhaji Seidu Abagre, who was installed as a rival claimant in 2023. The government has accepted the recommendation to facilitate his safe movement back to Nalerigu. The Asantehene explicitly called upon the Nayiri (Overlord of Mamprugu) to accept the legal reality, stating, “I recommend that my brother, the Nayiri, accept the laws as presently constituted.”
President Mahama, receiving the report, emphasized the human cost by thanking Otumfuo for the “honourable job” he has done. He described the King as a “national asset” and maintained that the outcome is not a winner or a loser issue, but a matter of reconciling the two factions for peace.
Voices from the Frontline
On the streets of Bawku, the news was met with a mixture of relief and pragmatic skepticism. Ibrahim, a local trader, expressed the exhaustion of the citizenry, noting that residents are tired of running into bunkers. He argued that if a billion cedis can fix roads and schools, the identity of the crown wearer becomes secondary to the basic desire to live.
The main opposition NPP has also signaled support for the process. The consensus is that the continuous cycle of violence since late 2021 must end. A minority official stated that the issue transcends party lines and requires the state to act with one voice. Additionally, Majority Leader and MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, will sit on the fund’s management committee, signaling a move toward local political accountability.
How It All Started
The roots of the Bawku crisis stretch back to 1957, following the death of Bawku Naba Na Awuni. What began as a traditional dispute over the “skin” between the indigenous Kusasi and the Mamprusi was fueled for decades by shifting political regimes. The conflict is rooted in colonial-era policies that attempted to impose the Mamprugu tradition over the indigenous Kusasi. Post-independence reversals turned the chieftaincy into a political football, but the final legal determination in 2003 by the Supreme Court affirmed Naba Azoka II’s legitimacy—a ruling the Asantehene noted is binding on all citizens.
The GH¢1 Billion Gamble
The Bawku Revitalisation Fund (2026–2028) is the financial heart of this deal. Managed by a high-level committee chaired by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, who also serves as Acting Minister for Defence, the fund aims to rebuild schools, dams, and markets. The committee includes Upper East Regional Minister Donaltus Akamuguri and Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga.
President Mahama warned that the conflict is not winnable militarily. By targeting irrigation and commercial facilities, the government hopes prosperity will become more attractive than old grievances, effectively using economic development as a primary security strategy.
The Burden of Implementation
This Asantehene-led Bawku Peace Roadmap is more than a local treaty; it is a vital shield for Ghana’s Northern Frontier against regional instability. By choosing the rule of law over political convenience, the Mahama administration has set a bold precedent for resolving deep-seated ethnic disputes. However, the true measure of success will not be found in the GH¢1 billion budget, but in the state’s courage to enforce the law impartially. For the people of Bawku, this represents a final chance to replace the sound of gunfire with the hum of a vibrant, borderless economy. Peace is no longer just a goal; it is now an economic and legal obligation.
