The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is set to deliver the much-anticipated final ruling in the long-running Bawku chieftaincy dispute today, Monday, December 1, 2025, at the Manhyia Palace.
The celebrated monarch was appointed by President John Dramani Mahama to spearhead mediation efforts aimed at resolving one of Ghana’s most enduring traditional conflicts.
Otumfuo’s involvement began in April 2025, when he hosted representatives of the opposing factions between April 28 and 30, setting the tone for renewed dialogue and reconciliation.
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Although talks were briefly halted, they resumed on May 13, during which the Asantehene commended both sides for their cooperation.
“The engagement has contributed to a period of relative calm in Bawku,” Otumfuo reportedly remarked during the session, urging the factions to prioritize peace.
For decades, the Bawku municipality has been gripped by recurring violence, chieftaincy rivalry, and sporadic attacks that have claimed lives and forced authorities to impose frequent curfews.
The conflict has fractured community relations, disrupted economic activity, and drawn national and international attention to the urgent need for sustainable peace.
A statement from the Manhyia Palace indicates that today’s sitting marks the final phase of the exhaustive mediation process.
“This session represents the culmination of extensive peace-building efforts led by His Majesty,” the Palace noted, expressing confidence in a lasting resolution.
Residents, security officials, and conflict-resolution stakeholders are hopeful that the Asantehene’s ruling will serve as a decisive step toward ending the cyclical violence that has plagued Bawku for generations.
Many believe that a clear and authoritative pronouncement from the Asantehene could usher in a new era of stability, reconciliation, and development in the conflict-prone enclave.