In a dramatic twist that has drawn both attention and criticism, President John Dramani Mahama, once an outspoken commentator on the political dimensions of the Bawku conflict, has now placed his trust in traditional leadership—specifically the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II—to resolve the protracted crisis in the Upper East region.
This comes in stark contrast to his 2024 campaign trail rhetoric, where Mahama, then the presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), boldly declared, “There is always peace in Bawku when the NDC is in power. But when the NPP comes, there is always a crisis.”
At the time, critics slammed the statement as an opportunistic politicization of a longstanding ethnic and chieftaincy conflict that has claimed lives and sown distrust across generations.
But now, just months into his second stint as President, John Mahama has found himself grappling with the same unrest he once positioned as a political weapon.
On Thursday, April 10, 2025, violent clashes erupted in Bawku between security forces and youth, resulting in multiple casualties and the shocking burning of the private residence of Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga.
Addressing the Ghana Military Academy Graduation Parade on Friday, President Mahama struck a conciliatory tone.
“The Ghana Armed Forces is engaged in several threats to maintain peace and security in our nation. One major flash point is the Bawku area. Only two days ago, a situation that took place in the market triggered an unfortunate loss of life and criminal vandalism of property. I wish to emphasize that nobody gains from this conflict and insecurities,” he said.
With Bawku again teetering on the brink, Mahama has thrown his weight behind the Asantehene-led peace initiative.
“We have triggered the Otumfuo mediation process, which has all the stakeholders to ensure a roadmap towards peace. I am assured by the Asantehene that the process will resume next week when he returns from his brief visit abroad,” he announced.
This approach, while drawing praise from some, raises questions about Mahama’s earlier assertions. If the conflict, as he previously claimed, was a symptom of NPP misrule, why has it reignited under an NDC administration?
Meanwhile, Mahama Ayariga, the embattled Bawku MP and Majority Leader in Parliament broke his silence from abroad, revealing in a public statement, “Whilst attending an official assignment out of the country, I have learned about fatal violent encounters between the police and the youth in Bawku and a subsequent vandalization and attempt to burn my private residence in Bawku in anger.”
He acknowledged the pain and frustration among the youth, adding, “I understand the anger and frustration of the youth about the pace of the resolution of the situation in Bawku and Kusaug and the misconduct of some misguided law enforcement officers.”
Ayariga also clarified the timeline and basis of the mediation initiative.
“The matter was referred by then President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to handle. Upon coming into office on January 7th, 2025, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama requested His Majesty Otumfuo to continue with the process,” he explained. “I support President John Dramani Mahama’s decision for very good reasons.”
In a powerful moment of personal candor, Ayariga reaffirmed his position on the chieftaincy matter:
“My personal position on the matter has been known to all over the years and has never changed. It won’t change. I agree with the youth of Kusaug that another person cannot reside in Bawku claiming to be chief. But in reverence to the great Asante Stool, I leave that matter to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to resolve expeditiously.”
The MP condemned the smear campaigns targeting him in the wake of the unrest, stating, “Kindly disregard the lies being told about me by political detractors and people seeking shamelessly to take advantage of the current unfortunate situation in Bawku and Kusaug to settle personal electoral political scores.”
While President Mahama emphasized a no-nonsense approach to criminality—“We will take all allegations of crime seriously and trigger our security service investigation machinery to go after criminals, no matter who they are”—his critics argue that the promise of impartial enforcement contrasts sharply with the highly charged political rhetoric of just a year ago.
Still, both President John Dramani Mahama and the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga are united in their appeal for calm. Ayariga closed his address with a plea:
“I, therefore, once again appeal to everyone to exercise restraint and allow the peace process led by Otumfuo to come to its logical conclusion. I also appeal to everyone to maintain cordial relations with the law enforcement agencies to protect lives in the interim.”
-BY Daniel Bampoe
