Nayiri Naa Bohugu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, the Overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, has formally rejected the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II recommendation on the Bawku crisis.
In a strongly-worded three-page statement dated Wednesday, December 17, 2025, the Overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area labelled the mediation report as a “procedurally flawed” and “unilaterally imposed” document.
According to the statement, the report does not reflect his engagements with the mediator.
Parts of the statement read, “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.
The Overlord of the Mamprugu statement expressed profound disappointment that the parties were not allowed to comment before the final report was presented.
“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.
He also expressed alarm over President Mahama’s decision 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,” he stated.
“Not even an inch of Mamprugu’s ancestral heritage will be ceded to anyone, especially through an unjust and clearly orchestrated process.”
He highlighted that the mediation had ended in a “clear DEADLOCK” with no consensus.
“I remain fully committed to peace, dialogue, and stability in Bawku and the wider Mamprugu area. However, peace must be founded on law, history, fairness, and consent, not on imposed outcomes,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, in his presentation of the final Bawku mediation report has recommended that the Overlord of Mamprugu, the Nayiri, accept Asigri Azoka as the Chief of Bawku and the head of the Kusasi Traditional Area.
The Otumfuo recommended that Seidu Abagre, who was recently installed by the Mamprusi side as a rival chief to the Bawku Naba, Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, should be recalled to Nalerigu.
According to the Otunfuo, Seidu Abagre, in his recommendation, must be recalled to Nalerigu and reassigned to perform a different traditional role at the Palace of the Nayiri in Nalerigu, or if he chooses to stay in Bawku, he should stay as an ordinary citizen.
Speaking during the presentation of the mediation report to President John Dramani Mahama at the Jubilee House on December 16, 2025, stated, “The final resolution of the Bawku Matters requires that Mr Seidu Abagre be recalled to Nalerigu by the Nayiri to be reassigned to play another traditional role at the Palace of the Nayiri, assisted by the State.
Alternatively, he may choose to stay in Bawku as an ordinary citizen of the community but not to pose as Bawku Naba”.
He added, “I recommend that my brother, the Nayiri, accept Asigri Abugrago Azoka as the Chief of Bawku and the head of the Kusasi Traditional Area”.
Also, the Asantehene has said the Bawku mediation report should bind on all parties.
He described the Bawku Peace Mediation process as a fact-finding effort aimed solely at restoring lasting peace.
The Asantehene stated, “We present the report for your kind consideration, whatever action you and your government consider appropriate,” the Asantehene said.
“There’s nothing more grievous than the peace and security of the land. Like I said, it was a mediation. It wasn’t an arbitration, and I’m not here to say that this one was wrong or this one was right. I’ll present the facts as they are, and that’s what it should be, binding on all of us.”
He added, “At the commencement of the hostilities, the government of former President Akufo-Addo issued a statement on the legal position.
“Both President Akufo-Addo and now President John Dramani Mahama came to the conclusion that historically, governments have intervened without lasting peace, and that court pronouncements have not been respected by either side if they went against them.”
“Both governments took the position that I should define a solution to the Bawku situation using mediation, and that my recommendations or conclusions shall be enforced by both governments at all times as a traditional solution to the problem,” he said.
See the statement below:
