The Overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, Nayiri Naa Bohugu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, has categorically rejected a chieftaincy mediation report submitted by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, dismissing it as “procedurally flawed” and “unilaterally imposed.” In a strongly worded three-page statement issued by the Mamprugu Traditional Council on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, the Nayiri disassociated himself and his people from the document, which contained recommendations on the long-standing Bawku chieftaincy dispute and had been presented to President John Dramani Mahama the previous day.
He argued that the report failed to reflect his actual engagements with the mediator and criticised the process for abandoning the principles of mediation in favour of adjudication. “I must state clearly and without reservation that the so-called report and recommendations do not reflect my engagements with Otumfuo, nor those of my duly constituted mediation team,” the Nayiri declared.
He outlined multiple reasons for the rejection, chief among them being that the mediator, who he said expressly described his role as that of a mediator and not an arbitrator, purported to “pass judgment and to prescribe measures for enforcement.” He argued this was inconsistent with the nature of mediation.
The Nayiri also revealed that no formal Terms of Reference were provided for the process, despite requests from his team. He expressed profound disappointment that the parties were not allowed to comment on or respond to the conclusions before they were presented as a final report.
“To say that I feel betrayed, disappointed, and deeply hurt would be a grave understatement,” he wrote, alleging that the report was “replete with factual inaccuracies” and displayed a “manifest imbalance” favouring one side’s narrative while omitting Mamprugu’s case.
The Overlord specifically denied a claim in the report that he agreed to the continued recognition of Aninchema as Bawku Naba, calling it “entirely false.”
He expressed alarm at reports that President Mahama intended to issue a definitive government position within 24 hours based on the document. “Such an approach, respectfully, will not advance the peace we all seek,” the Nayiri stated, urging the President to engage fully with all parties before acting.
Asserting Mamprugu’s stance, the King was emphatic: “Not even an inch of Mamprugu’s ancestral heritage will be ceded to anyone, especially through an unjust and clearly orchestrated process.”
He stressed that the mediation had ended in a “clear DEADLOCK” with no consensus, and any report should have stated this fact under the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010, rather than presenting final determinations.
The Bawku chieftaincy conflict—an enduring dispute between the Kusasi and Mamprusi ethnic groups over traditional authority—has fueled tension and intermittent violence in the Upper East Region for decades. In his remarks, the Nayiri reaffirmed his dedication to peace but stressed that it must rest on justice.
“I remain fully committed to peace, dialogue, and stability in Bawku and across the Mamprugu area. Yet true peace must be anchored in law, history, fairness, and consent, not imposed solutions,” he stated. He further pledged to continue engagements with Otumfuo and the Government and to release a more detailed statement in due course.
Source: Eliasu Tanko
