Upper East Chiefs task govt to end bloodshed in Bawku

The Upper East Region House of Chiefs has called on the government to act “swiftly and decisively” to resolve the protracted Bawku Chieftaincy crisis  for peace and stability to prevail.

It said “enough blood has already been spilled and this must stop”, adding that it behoved on government to act in that direction to bring lasting peace to the area.

This was in statement issued by the Standing Committee of the House after an emergency meeting in Bolgatanga following the purported enskinment of a new Bawku Chief at Nalerigu in the North East Region on February 15, 2023.

The statement was signed by Chiana-Pio Pe Ditundini A. Ayagtam II, President of the House, Mirigu-Naba Anthony Anonsona Abisa III, Vice President, Paga-Pio Charles Awiah Awampaga II, Member, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, Member, Naaga-Naba Olando A. Awini II, Member and Sandem-Nab Nab Azagsuk Aantgilow II, Member and copied to the Ghana News Agency.

The statement reiterated the stance of the Upper East Region House of Chiefs on the matter that Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II is the only recognised chief of Bawku and that the purported enskinment was a great worry to the House.

“We know that Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II (Zugraan) is the Paramount Chief of Bawku Traditional Area and a member of the Upper East Region House of Chiefs, the statement said, adding “he is also a member of the National House of Chiefs and currently a vacancy has not occurred necessitating the enskinment of a new paramount chief for Bawku.

“We, members of this house recognise Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II as the paramount chief of Bawku and the only chief clothed with the authority to enskin other chiefs in his jurisdiction.

“We have taken note of the statement issued by the Minister for Information expressing government’s position on the matter, and we wish to add our voice that we cannot have two paramount chiefs for Bawku”.

Meanwhile, the Kusaug Traditional Council has affirmed that Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, remains the only recognized and duly gazette Chief of Bawku.

It has therefore called on all residents of Bawku municipality to resist the urge to be drawn into confrontations likely to culminate into degeneration of the security situation in the area.

A statement signed by Wan-Naba, Naba Thomas Abila, Secretary to the Kusaug Traditional Council regretted the needless loss of lives that characterized the conflict and attempts by some persons to exploit the conflict for their vested interests.

It expressed worry about the purported enskinment of a Bawku Chief and the implications of same for ongoing peace-building efforts by the traditional council, government and the international community in the area.

The Council expressed appreciation to government for its intervention on the issue and assurance given that any development likely to undermine the peace and security of the area would be dealt with in accordance with the laws of the state.

“We remain peace-loving people and would continue to support ongoing efforts to restore lasting peace in our municipality.

On February 15, 2023, the Mamprusi faction of the protracted Bawku conflict was at the palace of the overlord of Mamprugu (Nayiri), Naa Bohugu Mahama Abdulai II for the enskinment of a new Bawku Naba despite the recognition of Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II by the government and the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs as the legitimate ruler of the area.

The action of the Nayiri, who is the kingmaker for Mamprugu, Bawku and other areas in the Upper East Region, is considered a disregard for the current Bawku Naba and could lead to more bloody clashes in the conflict-prone town.

Government condemned the purported enskinment of a new Bawku Naba.

In a press statement signed and issued by the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the government described the purported enskinment as “illegal and a threat to National Security.”

Some five Members of Parliament from the Kusaug traditional area condemned the enskinment of a new Bawku Naba in Nalegiru.

The concerned lawmakers of the Bawku Central, Binduri, Zebilla, Pusiga, and Tempane constituencies said they need peace to prevail to enable them develop their respective constituencies.

On February 18, 2023, a bench warrant was issued by the Bolgatanga High Court for the arrest of Alhaji Seidu Abagre and the King of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, Naa Bohugu Mahami Abdulai Sherigah II, and his kingmakers under section 71 of the criminal and other offenses procedure Act 1960(ACT 30).

The warrant also directed the arrest of Alhaji Seidu Abagre, who was enskinned as the new chief of Bawku by the Nayiri despite the recognition of Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II as the overlord of Bawku

However, an attempt by military personnel to arrest the King of Mamprugu and the newly enskinned Bawku chief on Sunday, February 19, 2023, was resisted by the youth who blocked the road leading to the Nayiri palace at Nalerigu in the North East region.

On February 21, 2023, the High Court rescinded the arrest warrant.