The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has formally presented the Bawku Peace Mediation Report to President John Dramani Mahama, as part of renewed efforts to secure lasting peace in the conflict-prone township.
The presentation took place on Tuesday, December 16, at the Jubilee House, during a ceremony attended by traditional leaders, key stakeholders, and senior government officials.
Proceedings began with the arrival of traditional chiefs and invited stakeholders, followed by the Chief of Staff, the Asantehene, and finally the President.
The programme opened with the singing of the national anthem and an opening prayer, after which the Director of State Protocol delivered introductory remarks. A welcome address was subsequently given by the Minister of the Interior.
The highlight of the ceremony came when Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who led the high-level mediation process, delivered his remarks and symbolically handed over the comprehensive peace report to President Mahama.
In his address, the Asantehene stressed that the outcome of the mediation process must be binding on all parties involved, underscoring the need for collective commitment to the recommendations contained in the report.
Presenting the document, Otumfuo clarified that the process he led was strictly a mediation exercise and not an arbitration, adding that the report was not intended to apportion blame.
“I’m here to present the facts as they are for us to have peace. I’m not here to give a judgment as to who was right or wrong. The report should bind on all of us. I have explained to the various parties. It was mediation, not arbitration,” he stated.
He also expressed appreciation to President Mahama for the confidence reposed in him to facilitate dialogue and help resolve the long-standing conflict.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was appointed earlier by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and continued by president John Mahama to spearhead mediation efforts aimed at resolving the decades-old chieftaincy dispute in Bawku, which has disrupted social and economic life in the municipality.
The mediation process finally began in April 2025, with the Asantehene holding separate consultations with representatives of the feuding factions as a confidence-building measure to initiate dialogue.
Although the talks were briefly suspended, they resumed in May 2025 and have since contributed to a period of relative calm in the troubled area.
The presentation of the mediation report marks a critical milestone in the peace process, as government and stakeholders consider the recommendations toward achieving a sustainable resolution to the Bawku conflict.
