By Yussif Ibrahim / Muyid Deen Suleman, GNA
Kumasi, Dec.1, GNA – Heavy security has been mounted at the Manhyia Palace as the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II–led committee prepares to conclude its mediation efforts aimed at resolving the longstanding Bawku conflict.
Approximately 400 police officers have been deployed to the palace to maintain order and ensure the safety of all participants.
Military personnel are also on standby to provide reinforcement should any unforeseen situation arise, underscoring the significance and sensitivity of the meeting.
The committee, chaired by the Asantehene, has since the beginning of the year been holding a series of engagements with the leadership of the Kusasis and Mamprusis in a renewed push to restore calm to Bawku, where intermittent clashes linked to a protracted chieftaincy dispute have destabilised the area for years.
Many people have lost their lives through the conflict, while several others have fled the war, bringing economic and social activities almost to a halt.
After holding separate meetings with the two factions over several months, Monday’s sitting marks the first time both groups are meeting face-to-face under the auspices of the Manhyia Palace.
This final gathering signals the concluding phase of an intensive mediation process that has involved careful consultations, fact-finding, and consensus-building throughout 2025.
In the lead-up to the meeting, various stakeholders, including the National Peace Council (NPC) and the Member of Parliament for Garu have appealed to both factions to accept the Asantehene’s decision in good faith to help break the cycle of tension and restore normalcy to the area.
The Manhyia Palace has commended both sides for the maturity, patience, and cooperation they have demonstrated throughout the mediation process, describing their conduct as crucial to achieving a sustainable resolution.
In anticipation of the outcome of the meeting, hundreds of Kusasis and Mamprusis in the Kumasi Metropolis have gathered around the precincts of the Manhyia Palace, although security personnel have barred them from entering the palace grounds.
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade