Government Endorses Asantehene’s Bawku Mediation Report, Launches GHS 1 Billion Revitalisation Fund

The Government of Ghana has formally endorsed the Bawku mediation report presented by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and has directed the immediate return of the rival chief, Alhaji Seidu Abagre, to Nalerigu under the authority of the Nayiri.

In an official statement released on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, and signed by the President’s spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the government accepted all recommendations contained in the report, describing it as a “comprehensive, fact-based, and forward-looking roadmap” aimed at securing lasting peace in the conflict-prone area.

The statement reaffirmed the Supreme Court’s recognition of Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II as the lawful Bawku Naba, reinforcing his legal standing while providing clear directives to manage the ongoing chieftaincy tensions.

A key immediate action ordered by the government is the safe movement and return of Alhaji Seidu Abagre to Nalerigu, where he is expected to remain under the oversight of the Nayiri.

“Government will immediately facilitate the safe movement of Alhaji Seidu Abagre to Nalerigu, where he shall remain available to receive the directives of the Nayiri,” the statement read.

In a further move to address the root causes of the Bawku conflict, President John Dramani Mahama has directed the establishment of a One Billion Ghana Cedi (GHS 1,000,000,000) Bawku Revitalisation Fund. The fund, to be implemented between 2026 and 2028, is intended to rebuild critical infrastructure, including roads, healthcare, education facilities, and irrigation systems, restoring Bawku as an economic hub in Northern Ghana.

The fund will be managed by a high-level committee chaired by Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson, with oversight to ensure transparency and effective disbursement.

The government called on all parties, including local traditional authorities, political leaders, and the public, to accept the report’s conclusions in the interest of peace and national stability.

This official endorsement comes despite the Nayiri’s earlier rejection of the mediation process, during which he described the report as “orchestrated” and “procedurally flawed” and denied ever consenting to its recommendations.

The Bawku chieftaincy dispute, a decades-long conflict primarily between the Kusasi and Mamprusi communities, has been a persistent source of violence and instability in the Upper East Region. Government action through this mediation report and the revitalisation fund is seen as a significant step toward lasting reconciliation and sustainable development in the area.

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