Bawku conflict

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Bawku conflict
Part of Ethnic conflicts in Ghana
Date1957 – present
Location
Bawku Municipality, Upper East Region, Ghana
Result Ongoing
Belligerents
Kusasi ethnic group Mamprusi ethnic group

The Bawku conflict is a long-standing chieftaincy and ethnic dispute primarily between the Kusasi and Mamprusi communities in and around the Bawku Municipality of Ghana’s Upper East Region, near the border with Burkina Faso.[1] Rooted in the colonial indirect-rule framework and sharpened by post-independence policy reversals, the dispute centres on claims to the paramount chieftaincy (the Bawku skin) and associated land authority.[2] Periodic escalations have led to deaths, injuries, displacement, curfews, and significant economic and social disruption.[3][4] As of July 2025, the government again deployed additional soldiers and tightened curfews following renewed violence, including attacks on schools.[5]

Background

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Kusasi communities present themselves as the area’s indigenous landholders, organised around earth-priest institutions (tindaana).[6][7] Mamprusi narratives trace authority to the Mamprugu kingdom, traditionally linked to the figure of Naa Gbewa, and emphasise the historical spread of centralized chieftaincy into the Bawku area.[8][9] British colonial indirect rule subordinated acephalous groups such as the Kusasi to centralized polities like Mamprugu, creating enduring tensions over authority, tribute, and land administration.[10]

In the late colonial period and after independence, national party politics intersected with the dispute: Kusasi elites were often associated with the Convention People’s Party (CPP), while many Mamprusi activists aligned with the opposition Northern People’s Party and later the United Party tradition; these alignments influenced state interventions and litigation around the Bawku skin.[11][12]

Causes

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Both sides advance competing legitimacy claims: Kusasi arguments foreground autochthony and land custodianship, whereas Mamprusi claims highlight the precedence of Mamprugu chieftaincy and historical appointments to Bawku.[13][14] The contest over the Bawku skin thus implicates land rights, access to resources, and local administrative authority, with tensions often rising during farming seasons.[15]

Political decision-making has repeatedly reversed earlier determinations. The 1958 Opoku-Afari Committee and subsequent executive actions recognised a Kusasi candidate as Bawku Naba;[16][17] after the 1966 coup, NLCD 112 shifted recognition towards Mamprusi;[18] and in 1983 PNDC Law 75 restored Kusasi paramountcy.[19]

Other aggravating factors include the spread of small arms (some trafficked across borders), economic precarity, and the presence of actors who benefit from instability.[20][21] While observers have raised concerns about potential linkages to Sahelian militancy, open-source analyses in 2024–2025 reported no verified operational ties to jihadist groups in Bawku itself.[22]

Timeline

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Pre-independence and early escalations

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The dispute intensified after the death of Bawku Naba Na Awuni in 1956, when rival installations triggered violent confrontations in 1957. In 1958, the Opoku-Afari Committee recommended recognition of Abugrago Azoka (Kusasi), and he was installed as Bawku Naba.[23][24]

Post-independence shifts

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Following the 1966 coup, the National Liberation Council’s NLCD 112 altered the earlier settlement in favour of Mamprusi claimants; PNDC Law 75 (1983) later reinstated Kusasi paramountcy. Violent clashes were recorded in 1983–1985 around these policy turns.[25][26][27]

Late 20th and early 21st century

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Major outbreaks recurred around election periods and local disputes. In late 2000 and through 2001, dozens were killed in Bawku and surrounding towns, with reports citing about 50 deaths during one December 2001 flare-up and significant displacement. Subsequent bouts of violence were reported in 2007–2010 by Ghanaian media and civil-society monitors.[28][29][30][31]

Renewed escalation since 2021

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From late 2021, the area saw sustained hostilities and a rising death toll. In August 2023, the Municipal Chief Executive stated that close to 200 people had been killed since November 2021 (a figure he described as exceeding police records).[32] A 2024 policy note by the Clingendael Institute similarly described hundreds of conflict-related fatalities in the period 2021–2024. On 28 October 2024, the Interior Ministry imposed a 6 p.m.–6 a.m. curfew in response to renewed clashes;[33] national media reported additional curfew renewals thereafter.[34][35]

In July 2025, violence surged again. Reuters reported the killing of a Kusasi chief and three high-school students in separate attacks, prompting the deployment of additional soldiers and tighter curfew measures.[36] Around the same time, Ghanaian outlets reported that gunmen set fire to the residence of Bawku MP Mahama Ayariga and that soldiers destroyed a statue of the Kusasi paramount chief during operations—incidents which drew further controversy and investigations.[37][38]

Impacts

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The conflict has caused repeated casualties and displacement, disrupted farming and trade, and undermined service delivery in education and health.[39] Business closures and the departure of professionals during escalations have been reported by local and national media, while authorities have periodically imposed curfews and arms bans to stabilize the area.[40]

Resolution efforts

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State responses have included curfews, military and police deployments, and ad hoc investigations into specific incidents.[41][42] Local dialogue initiatives have also emerged. The Bawku Inter-Ethnic Peace Committee was convened in 2009 with support from civil-society actors to facilitate community-level engagement.[43][44] Ghanaian NGOs such as the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) and local associations have supported mediation, early-warning, and livelihood interventions, sometimes with UNDP/UNICEF programmatic backing.[45]

Since 2023–2025, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has chaired formal mediation sessions with representatives of the parties, backed by government and security officials, with periodic public affirmations from national leaders encouraging cooperation with the process.[46][47]

References

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  1. ^ "Emerging Local Voices and New Possibilities Toward Attaining Sustainable Peace in Bawku, north-eastern Ghana". ACCORD. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  2. ^ Longi, Felix Y. T. (2014). "The Kusasi-Mamprusi Conflict in Bawku: A Legacy of British Colonial Policy in Northern Ghana". Ghana Studies. 17 (1): 157–176. doi:10.3368/gs.17.1.157. ISSN 2333-7168.
  3. ^ "5,000 displaced, 50 killed in communal clashes". www.thenewhumanitarian.org. 2001-12-04. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  4. ^ "Calm returns to Bawku after Kussasi/Mamprusi clash". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  5. ^ Bruce, Emmanuel (2025-07-28). "Ghana deploys soldiers to quell northern chieftancy dispute". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  6. ^ "Mapping Conflict Zones in Ghana" (PDF). www.peacecouncil.gov.gh. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  7. ^ Conflict Mapping and Analysis: Upper East Region (Bawku Area) (PDF) (Report). National Peace Council (Ghana) & UNDP. 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  8. ^ Iddrisu, Salifu Hamza. "The Mamprugu Kingdom: Historical Evolution and the Role of the Nayiri in Traditional Governance". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  9. ^ Iddrisu, Salifu Hamza. "The Bawku Chieftaincy Dispute: Historical Legitimacy, Political Interference, and the Role of Media". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  10. ^ Agboli, Steve (2023). "Emerging local voices and new possibilities toward attaining sustainable peace in Bawku, north-eastern Ghana". African Journal on Conflict Resolution. 23 (2): 93–118. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  11. ^ Osei-Tutu, John Kwadwo (2015-01-01). "The Politics of Chieftaincy Authority and Property in Colonial Ghana, 1920–1950 by Naaborko Sackeyfio-Lenoch". Ghana Studies. 18: 197–199. doi:10.1353/GHS.2015.0004.
  12. ^ Osei-Tutu, John Kwadwo (2015-01-01). "The Politics of Chieftaincy Authority and Property in Colonial Ghana, 1920–1950". Ghana Studies. 18 (1): 197–199. doi:10.3368/gs.18.1.197. ISSN 1536-5514.
  13. ^ Longi, Felix Y. T. (2014-01-01). "The Kusasi-Mamprusi Conflict in Bawku: A Legacy of British Colonial Policy in Northern Ghana". Ghana Studies. 17 (1): 157–176. doi:10.3368/gs.17.1.157. ISSN 1536-5514.
  14. ^ Iddrisu, Salifu Hamza. "Bawku Conflict: Examining Political Bias and Historical Injustices Against the Mamprusi". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  15. ^ Tahiru, Alhassan (2024-05-10). "Small Sparks, Big Flames: Why Resolving Local Conflicts Matters for Wider Security – The Case of Bawku Conflict in Ghana". PRIF BLOG. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  16. ^ Paalo, Sebastian Angzoorokuu; Dramani, Aminu (2024-10-01). "The Labyrinth of State Intervention in Communal Conflict in Africa: Ghana's Maiden Official State-Led Efforts in Resolving the Bawku Conflict". African Studies. 83 (4): 296–313. doi:10.1080/00020184.2025.2487481. ISSN 0002-0184.
  17. ^ Tahiru, Alhassan (2024-05-10). "Small Sparks, Big Flames: Why Resolving Local Conflicts Matters for Wider Security – The Case of Bawku Conflict in Ghana". PRIF BLOG (in German). Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  18. ^ scispace.com https://scispace.com/pdf/the-kusasi-mamprusi-conflict-in-bawku-a-legacy-of-british-48px0tq6ix.pdf. Retrieved 2025-08-25. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. ^ "Emerging Local Voices and New Possibilities Toward Attaining Sustainable Peace in Bawku, north-eastern Ghana". ACCORD. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  20. ^ "Understanding armed violence in Bawku: Exploring links with terrorism and its drivers". ACCORD. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  21. ^ Tahiru, Alhassan. "Beyond the State: Traditional Authority in the Mediation of Protracted Conflict in Ghana". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  22. ^ "CrisisWatch Conflict Tracker | International Crisis Group". www.crisisgroup.org. 2025-07-31. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  23. ^ scispace.com https://scispace.com/pdf/state-intervention-and-the-labyrinth-of-communal-conflict-in-3bgv2phj.pdf. Retrieved 2025-08-25. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  24. ^ Oxford Analytica (2022-10-19). "Jihadists may exploit Bawku conflict in Ghana". Expert Briefings. Emerald Expert Briefings. doi:10.1108/OXAN-DB273465. ISSN 2633-304X.
  25. ^ Iddrisu, Salifu Hamza. "The Bawku Chieftaincy Dispute: Historical Legitimacy, Political Interference, and the Role of Media". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  26. ^ Tahiru, Alhassan (2024-05-10). "Small Sparks, Big Flames: Why Resolving Local Conflicts Matters for Wider Security – The Case of Bawku Conflict in Ghana". PRIF BLOG (in German). Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  27. ^ Longi, Felix Y. T. (2014-01-01). "The Kusasi-Mamprusi Conflict in Bawku: A Legacy of British Colonial Policy in Northern Ghana". Ghana Studies. 17 (1): 157–176. doi:10.3368/gs.17.1.157. ISSN 1536-5514.
  28. ^ "5,000 displaced, 50 killed in communal clashes". www.thenewhumanitarian.org. 2001-12-04. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  29. ^ Quist-Arcton, Ofeibea (2001-12-04). "Ghana: Up to 50 Believed Killed in Ethnic Clashes". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  30. ^ "Ghana clashes claim 50". News24. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  31. ^ Courtright, James (2023-01-25). "A Small Town in Ghana Erupted in Violence. Were Jihadists Fueling the Fight?". New Lines Magazine. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  32. ^ Badu, Philipina (2023-08-15). "Close to 200 killed in Bawku conflict since Nov 2021 - MCE". The Ghana Report. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  33. ^ "Imposition of Curfew on Bawku Municipality and Its Environs in the Upper East Region". Ministry of the Interior│Republic of Ghana. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  34. ^ "Curfew imposed on Bawku amid rising tensions, loss of lives - MyJoyOnline". Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  35. ^ "Govt imposes curfew on Bawku after deadly clashes". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2024-10-28. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  36. ^ Bruce, Emmanuel (2025-07-28). "Ghana deploys soldiers to quell northern chieftancy dispute". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  37. ^ "Bawku conflict: Students killed, MP's residence set ablaze - MyJoyOnline". Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  38. ^ "Government will restore Bawku Naba Statue – Defence Minister Omane Boamah - MyJoyOnline". Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  39. ^ "Bawku clashes: Death toll now 18, dozens flee out of fear". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2022-12-26. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  40. ^ "Imposition of Curfew on Bawku Municipality and Its Environs in the Upper East Region". Ministry of the Interior│Republic of Ghana. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  41. ^ "Imposition of Curfew on Bawku Municipality and Its Environs in the Upper East Region". Ministry of the Interior, Republic of Ghana. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  42. ^ "Ghana deploys soldiers to quell northern chieftaincy dispute". Reuters. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  43. ^ Gariba, Joshua Awienagua; Ibrahim, Sulley (December 2024). "Resolving Chieftaincy Conflicts through Intercultural Dialogue: The Case of Bawku Interethnic Peace Committee in Northern Ghana". Contemporary Journal of African Studies. 11 (2): 1–39. doi:10.4314/contjas.v11i2.1.
  44. ^ Conflict Mapping and Analysis: Upper East Region (Bawku Area) (PDF) (Report). National Peace Council (Ghana) & UNDP. 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  45. ^ "Emerging Local Voices and New Possibilities Toward Attaining Sustainable Peace in Bawku, north-eastern Ghana". ACCORD. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  46. ^ "Asantehene to resume mediation of Bawku conflict on April 28". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2025-04-15. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  47. ^ "Bawku Crisis: Bawumia calls for cooperation with Asantehene-led mediation team for lasting peace - MyJoyOnline". Retrieved 2025-08-25.