Personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) have removed Alhaji Seidu Abagre, the rival Mamprusi chief, from Bawku Township in the Upper East Region, in accordance with recommendations contained in the mediation report on the protracted Bawku conflict led by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
The development was confirmed by the Ministry of the Interior in a brief statement issued on its official Facebook page on Wednesday, December 24.
“This afternoon, personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) removed Alhaji Seidu Abagre from Bawku, pursuant to the recommendations of the Otumfuo Asantehene Osei Tutu II mediation report regarding the Bawku affair. Alhaji Seidu Abagre is safe in the care of the security agencies,” the statement said.
The removal comes amid ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions and restore lasting peace to Bawku, which has been at the centre of a long-standing chieftaincy dispute. However, shortly after the operation, unconfirmed reports emerged of sporadic gunshots in parts of the township, with possible casualties. The Ministry of the Interior has not commented on these reports.
As part of its proposals to resolve the conflict, the Otumfuo mediation committee recommended that Alhaji Seidu Abagre, who was recently installed by the Mamprusi side as a rival chief, be recalled to Nalerigu by the Overlord of Mamprugu, the Nayiri.
Under the recommendations, Mr Abagre is to be reassigned to perform a different traditional role at the Nayiri’s Palace in Nalerigu, rather than remain in Bawku as a chief. The report further provides an alternative option should he choose to stay in Bawku.
“The final resolution of the Bawku Matters requires that Mr Seidu Abagre be recalled to Nalerigu by the Nayiri to be reassigned to play another traditional role at the Palace of the Nayiri, assisted by the State. Alternatively, he may choose to stay in Bawku as an ordinary citizen of the community but not to pose as Bawku Naba,” Otumfuo Osei Tutu II stated while presenting the report.
The mediation committee’s recommendations were formally presented to President John Dramani Mahama at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, December 16.
In reiterating the legal position on the dispute, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that the matter has been conclusively settled by the courts, with the Supreme Court affirming Asigri Abugrago Azoka II as the lawful Bawku Naba.
Source