🛑 Bawku Chieftaincy Dispute: A Deep Dive

Written by: Khalid Azure Yakubu_Tutor, Research, Politics, Pan Africanist, Digital Marketer. 

Historical Background:

The Bawku conflictis rooted in a long-standing chieftaincy dispute between two main ethnic groups in the Bawku area of the Upper East Region of Ghana: the Mamprusi and the Kusasi.

Colonial Legacy:

The seeds of the conflict date back to colonial rule. In the early 20th century, the British, as part of their indirect rule strategy, recognized the Mamprusi as traditional rulers over the Bawku area, installing a Mamprusi chief.

Post-Independence Shift:

After Ghana’s independence, particularly in the 1950s and 60s, the Kusasi people, who were numerically dominant in Bawku, began to push for their right to install their own chief (the Bawku Naba). In 1958, the government under Kwame Nkrumah recognized the Kusasi Bawku Naba, a move that Mamprusis have never fully accepted.

1983, 2001, 2007, 2022:

These years mark some of the bloodiest clashes, resulting in deaths, destruction of property, and prolonged curfews. Violence has flared up repeatedly whenever a new chief is enskinned or traditional festivals like Damba or Samanpiid are celebrated.

⚖️ Core Issues:

Ethnic Identity & Legitimacy:

Both the Kusasi and Mamprusi claim historical rights to the Bawku skin. The Mamprusi argue they were historically overlords in the area. The Kusasi maintain they are the indigenous population and deserve autonomous control.

Legal and Governmental Complications:

Different governments have at different times supported either side. Legal rulings and governmental recognition have shifted, deepening distrust.

National Security:

The conflict has morphed into an armed standoff, with civilian possession of weapons and heavy military deployment. It undermines national cohesion, especially in the northern regions and now the whole nation. We have heard of schools been closed down and curfew hours renewed in recent past all due to this conflict with broad day light killings in different areas not directly or indirectly involved in this conflict.

Political Hypocrisy and Interference:

Politicians from both sides of the divide often exploit the situation for electoral gains. While publicly preaching peace, they sometimes covertly back their ethnic affiliates.

🧠 Critical Analysis

The Bawku conflict is:

Unnecessary:

It has become a self-perpetuating cycle of retaliation. Many younger people caught up in it were not born when it began.

Economically Damaging:

Bawku, once a vibrant commercial town, has seen business and agriculture stall. Schools close during flare-ups, and investors flee.

Manipulated:

Hidden hands—politicians, chiefs, and opportunists—benefit from the instability, whether for political capital or access to security contracts and land.

✅ Meaningful Conclusion:

Bawku chieftaincy conflict is a needless, man-made crisis. At its core is a struggle for identity, recognition, and control. But the blood that continues to flow is not justified by any history or tradition. The situation calls for truth, reconciliation, and genuine leadership, not just peace talks.

I am  Khalid Azure Yakubu and I insist, “The hypocrisy of people fuels this fight.” Until the veil of ethnic partisanship is lifted and sincerity takes center stage, Bawku will remain a ghost of its peaceful past. 

The worst of them all is that, the conflict is today a respecter of nobody.

We must all speak up to bring a lasting solution to Bawku and the whole nation.

Thanks for following.

#EndBawkuConflictNow. #Peace #Upper East, Bolgatanga. gh