President John Dramani Mahama has warned that the current state of affairs in Bawku and all other areas where conflicts continue to impede progress cannot be accepted.
The President said the recent killings in Bawku and Nelerigu where students where shot and killed on campus are nothing short of derailing the mediation process started by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. This he said cannot be accepted.
“We cannot accept a situation where students are shot in school and killed. We can’t accept the current situation where teachers and public officers have all run away from Bawku because they are afraid for their lives,” he stated
President Mahama says government in the quest to achieving lasting peace in Bawku has since shifted from peace keeping to peace enforced. A development he says will deploy a more robust approach by the Military.
“As the army has announced, I have directed the army to move from peacekeeping to peace enforcement. That means they are going to be a bit more robust with anybody who is involved in criminality,” he stated.
Addressing a gathering during a courtesy call by the Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soaale I, at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, the President made a passionate appeal to both Kusasis and Mamprusis as well as the people of Nkwanta to give peace.
“Let us give peace a chance, not only in Bawku, but in Nkwanta and all the other places where we currently are suffering conflict,” he appealed.
He revealed that the mediation process, led by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has made significant progress and is close to achieving a resolution adding that any adverse actions were only to derail the mediation efforts.
“Otumfuo has been briefing me constantly on the progress he’s been making, and we are almost there. The current fighting and killings can only be done by people who want to derail the mediation efforts.” He said.
