Otumfuo set to Present Bawku Peace Roadmap to President Mahama Today—as Govt Renews Curfew in Bawku
In a pivotal moment for national peacebuilding, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II will formally present his mediation report on the protracted Bawku conflict to President John Dramani Mahama today, December 16, 2025.
The ceremony, scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at the Jubilee House marks the culmination of months of high-level dialogue and is expected to chart the course for sustainable peace in the troubled region.
Curfew
Ahead of the presentation, the government has renewed the curfew in Bawku Municipality and its environs, from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am effective Monday, December 15, 2025. The move, announced by Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, follows advice from the National Security Council and is enacted by an Executive Instrument.
Mediation
The presentation of the report is the result of a mediation mandate given to the revered monarch by President Mahama earlier this year.
The process, which began in April 2025, involved direct engagement with factions in the decades-long chieftaincy and ethnic dispute between the Kusasi and Mamprusi communities.
Despite temporary suspensions, the Asantehene’s efforts are credited with contributing to a period of relative calm in an area long plagued by recurrent violence, loss of life, and economic disruption.
National significance
Recognising the report’s importance, President Mahama is reported to have extended invitations beyond government circles to ensure broad national ownership.
Key institutions like the National House of Chiefs and the National Peace Council have been specially invited to witness the handover. This aligns with the government’s view of the event as a significant milestone in the national quest to restore long-term peace.
Urgent regional context
President Mahama has directly linked the urgent resolution of the Bawku conflict to broader regional security threats. During a meeting with the National Peace Council, he noted that the Sahel area of West Africa is saddled with violent extremism, making it imperative to “amicably handle the Bawku issue as quickly as possible”.
This frames the mediation report not just as a local solution but as a critical component of national and regional stability.
Path forward
President Mahama has stated that the government has been managing the crisis while awaiting the outcome of the royal mediation.
The report’s recommendations will now guide the next phase of government action. The President has already expressed his gratitude to Otumfuo for his “invaluable role,” signalling high expectations for the proposed roadmap.
The handover today is more than a ceremonial event; it is the transfer of a carefully negotiated blueprint for peace.
Its implementation, which will require concerted effort from government, traditional leaders, security agencies, and civil society, will be the true test of whether the cycle of conflict in Bawku can finally be broken.
