By Issah Olegor
Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has issued a strong appeal for an end to the politicisation of the protracted Bawku conflict, warning that political interference risks undermining peace efforts in the troubled Upper East Region town.
Speaking during the NPP’s ongoing national “Thank You” tour in the Upper East Region, Dr. Bawumia broke his silence on the Bawku unrest, which has recently seen a resurgence in violence.
He condemned attempts by political actors to exploit the crisis for partisan gain, calling such actions “unfortunate” and “damaging to peace and stability.”
“The politicisation of the crisis in Bawku is very unfortunate,” Bawumia said.
“Some people do that for their own parochial interests, not the peace and stability of the area. They played politics with the situation and went around lying that I was behind it — that I was buying guns for Mamprusis to kill Kusasis. These were dangerous lies.”
According to Dr. Bawumia, the false claims, allegedly propagated by elements within the National Democratic Congress (NDC), were so convincing that even members of his own party in Bawku had begun to believe.
He expressed relief that, in his view, the truth had now emerged.
“God has exposed those who spread these lies,” he added. “The events in Bawku have demonstrated that the NDC lied to the people of Bawku for political advantage. Today, the truth is becoming clear to everyone.”
Dr. Bawumia cautioned all political leaders — regardless of party affiliation — against using ethnic and chieftaincy disputes for political capital.
He stressed that issues as sensitive and deeply rooted as the Bawku conflict must be approached with national interest and empathy rather than partisanship.
Dr. Bawumia expressed extreme sadness over the conflict, which he said is “unfortunately between two factions who are the same people with common things,” and called for peaceful ceasefire.
“I feel so sad about this conflict and the killing of innocent people. Mamprusis and Kusasis are one people, and this should not be happening. We understand each other’s language and we have inter married so we are one people.”
While calling for the cooperation of all stakeholders with the Asantehene mediation team, Dr. Bawumia also slammed politicians who used the conflict for their parochial gains, calling for an end to the politicisation of the conflict.
“The politicisation of the crisis in Bawku is very unfortunate because some people do that for their own parochial interests, not the peace and stability of the area,” Dr. Bawumia said.
“I want peace in Bawku more than anybody,” he said, commending the ongoing mediation efforts spearheaded by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
“I pray the mediation team being led by Otumfuo will be able to bring much-needed peace in Bawku.”
The conflict in Bawku, which centers on a long-standing chieftaincy dispute between the Mamprugu and Kusasi ethnic groups, has spanned decades and claimed many lives.
The renewed violence in recent months has raised concerns about national security, particularly given the town’s proximity to Ghana’s border with Burkina Faso — a region vulnerable to extremist infiltration.
Otumfuo’s Mediation
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who played a pivotal role in resolving the Dagbon chieftaincy crisis in 2019, has been actively engaged in efforts to mediate the Bawku conflict.
During a recent address to participants of the UK Advanced Command and Staff College at the Manhyia Palace, the Asantehene warned that the continued instability in Bawku could create an opening for terrorist groups seeking to exploit local tensions.
“Communal skirmishes near our northern borders must be resolved urgently. We must not permit the infiltration of terrorism,” Otumfuo emphasized.
The latest round of mediation talks took place on April 28 at the Manhyia Palace, where leaders of the feuding factions were brought together for dialogue.
While hope remains that the Asantehene’s efforts will bear fruit, the path to lasting peace in Bawku remains fraught with complexities.
Dr. Bawumia’s comments have added a new layer to the discourse, urging a collective, depoliticised approach to conflict resolution and national healing.
