The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has brought his months-long mediation efforts on the Bawku chieftaincy conflict to a close, calling on the factions to prepare their supporters for a permanent end to violence, insisting they are “one people.”

The appeal was made on Monday, December 1, 2025, during a landmark face-to-face dialogue at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, where both the Mamprusi and Kusasi delegations were seated together under Otumfuo’s chairmanship.

In a statement issued by his Chief of Staff, Kofi Badu, the Asantehene expressed gratitude for the composure and maturity demonstrated throughout the mediation process.

He urged community leaders to begin guiding their supporters towards peaceful coexistence and ending the cycle of violence and disorder in their communities.

Historic Dialogue at the Jubilee Hall

The final meeting took place in the Jubilee Hall, bringing together key representatives from both sides.

• The Mamprusi delegation, led by Chief Tarana John Wuni Grunah, represented the Naayiri, Overlord of Mamprugu, with a 30-member team.
• The Kusasi delegation was led by Naba Tambis Baalug of Pusiga, representing the Bawku Naaba and the Kusasi people.

Former MP Cletus Avoka spoke on behalf of the Kusasi delegation, while Dr. Issah served as spokesperson for the Mamprusi team.

According to the palace, the session was marked by cordial engagement, with both sides acknowledging their shared ancestry and the futility of continuing hostilities.

A Culmination of Months of Separate Consultations

Monday’s face-to-face meeting was the final stage of an extended mediation effort in which Otumfuo held private engagements with each community. Throughout these consultations, the King listened to historical claims, concerns, and proposals from the disputing groups in search of a mutually acceptable resolution to a conflict that has claimed lives, forced displacements, and fractured social cohesion in the Bawku Traditional Area.

Next Steps: Recommendations to the Presidency

The Asantehene is now preparing a formal report outlining his recommendations to the President.

“His Majesty announced that he would submit his report with his proposals to His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama in the next few days,” the statement noted.

The release further emphasized the King’s hope that the President will act swiftly to convene a formal gathering of all parties to publicly announce the outcome of the mediation.