The Africa Centre for Security and Counter-Terrorism has hailed the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for his leadership and diplomatic skill in successfully mediating the long-standing Bawku chieftaincy conflict.
According to the Centre, the resolution of this protracted dispute offers a clear path toward peace, reconciliation, and inclusive development in the Bawku traditional area.
In a statement, the Centre commended Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s approach, noting that his decision to bring the Kusai and Mamprusi factions into direct dialogue on the final day of mediation demonstrated both courage and strategic insight.
“This methodology offers invaluable lessons for conflict resolution across our region and beyond,” the statement said.
The statement acknowledged the good faith of both factions, highlighting their commitment to the negotiation process and confidence in the outcomes.
The Centre, however, urged the leadership of both groups to view peace not as a victory for one party and a defeat for another, stating that the forthcoming recommendations will determine the rightful holder of the Bawku skin while serving justice, dignity, and stability.
The Centre called on both factions to educate and prepare their supporters for acceptance, framing the resolution as a collective gain that would allow Bawku to redirect its energies from conflict to development.
It also urged the government to swiftly implement the Asantehene’s recommendations, warning that political delays have historically complicated this traditional matter.
“Demonstrating political will through decisive action will send a powerful signal that the state is committed to closing this chapter definitively,” the statement said.
It noted that peace in Bawku will be measured by the implementation of recommendations rather than their announcement.
The Africa Centre added that poverty, underdevelopment, and lost opportunities, not rival factions, remain the real challenges for the Bawku area.
It urged elites and community leaders to invest their resources in building a unified, prosperous Bawku and called on the government to prioritise restorative initiatives in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and livelihoods as tangible symbols of its commitment to peace.
The Centre affirmed its readiness to support ongoing peace efforts alongside traditional authorities, government agencies, and community leaders.
“His Majesty Otumfuo has shown us the way forward. Now it falls to all of us to walk that path together. Peace is not just possible in Bawku. Peace is now within reach. Let us seize this moment,” the statement said.