President John Dramani Mahama has warned that the renewed violence and killings in Bawku are attempts to derail ongoing mediation efforts, announcing a shift in military strategy from peacekeeping to peace enforcement to clamp down on criminal elements.
He emphasized that the current situation, where students are shot in school and teachers and public officers are forced to flee for their lives, is unacceptable.
Speaking during a courtesy call by Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soaale I, the Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, at the Jubilee House in Accra on Wednesday, July 29, 2025, the President made a passionate appeal to both Kusasis and Mamprusis to give peace a chance and support efforts to restore calm in the area.
“We cannot accept a situation where students are shot in school and killed. We can’t accept the current situation where teachers and public officers have all run away from Bawku because they are afraid for their lives,” Mahama said.
He revealed that the mediation process, led by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has made significant progress and is close to achieving a resolution.
“Otumfuo has been briefing me constantly on the progress he’s been making, and we are almost there,” the President noted.
President Mahama condemned the latest round of fighting, stating, “The current fighting and killings can only be done by people who want to derail the mediation efforts.”
To address the rising insecurity, the President announced a change in the military’s approach.
“As the army has announced, I have directed the army to move from peacekeeping to peace enforcement. That means they are going to be a bit more robust with anybody who is involved in criminality,” he stated.
The President further extended his appeal for peace beyond Bawku, urging residents in Nkwanta and other conflict-affected areas to support national efforts toward reconciliation and stability.
“Let us give peace a chance, not only in Bawku, but in Nkwanta and all the other places where we currently are suffering conflict,” he concluded.
