President John Mahama has once again stated that the truly gazetted Chief of Bawku Naba is Naba Abugrago Azoka.
Mahama stressed that he cannot be sentimental in terms of implementing the law, adding that he cannot have somebody else who is not gazetted come and say he is also Bawku Naba.
Speaking to the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs, paid when they called on him during a courtesy call, President Mahama stated, “Once it didn’t happen, the mediator had no option but to revert to what the law says. His report basically stated what the lawful position was. I cannot be sentimental in terms of implementing the law. Everybody knows what the law says: the truly gazetted Chief of Bawku Naba is Naba Abugrago Azoka. That is what the law says. He is gazetted”.
“I cannot have somebody who is not gazetted come and say, ‘I am the Bawku Naba too. I have to do what I have to do to ensure peace in Bawku, which is what we have done. The law is the law,” he added.
Also, Mahama announced that an estimated 119 people lost their lives while the Bawku mediation efforts led by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was ongoing.
He added, “The Otumfuo Committee was established by my predecessor, Nana Akufo-Addo. In his handing-over notes, he mentioned to me that he had invited Otumfuo to mediate in the conflict.
“As his successor, I was duty-bound to allow that mediation to go on,” President Mahama said.
“While the mediation was ongoing, there was violence and killings. It’s estimated that about 119 people lost their lives during the period of the mediation. But thank God, ultimately, his report came out,” he stated.
Meanwhile, some Mamprusi natives on January 19, 2026, protested the continuous detention of Alhaji Seidu Abagre, whom they describe as the original chief of Bawku.
According to one of the protesting Mamprusi natives, they will bring Boko Haram to Ghana if they do not get justice.
Speaking in a viral video, the Mamprusi native stated, “God will strike him, we will never recognise him, where is he from, thinking that you could use force to intimidate us. Never, this is just the beginning, Wallahi, we will never surrender, we will bring Boko Haram to Ghana.
Another Mamprusi in the video added, “No justice, no peace”
One more Mamprusi, “Where have you seen that a president selects a chief?”
The Mamprusi natives’ comments protest follows the continuous detention of Alhaji Seidu Abagre, also known as Naa Sheriga Kulga II.
Alhaji Seidu Abagre was remanded into the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) after the Accra High Court refused his bail application.
Alhaji Seidu Abagre has been formally charged with impersonating a chief without proper qualifications and inciting riots in connection with the Bawku chieftaincy dispute.
Alhaji Seidu Abagre, a 79-year-old retired teacher removed from Bawku following recommendations in the Asantehene’s mediation report on the chieftaincy dispute, was charged with four offences, including acting as a chief without qualification, provocation of riot, offensive conduct likely to breach the peace, and fighting with weapons.
During his arraignment on January 19, he pleaded not guilty to all four charges.
The court rejected his bail application after the State argued that his release could threaten national security and disturb the peace in Bawku.
The court, in its ruling, acknowledged the constitutional pillars of the presumption of innocence and the right to personal liberty.
However, the High Court held that specific circumstances warranted denying bail, siding with the State’s argument on public safety.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Seidu Abagre has been granted GH¢100,000 with two sureties bail by the High Court in Accra.
Watch the video below:
The law is clear: Abugrago Azoka II is the gazetted chief of Bawku – Prez Mahama#UTVNews pic.twitter.com/h0jjpyvMsD
— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) February 10, 2026