The Chief Mediator: What the Asantehene's mediation role in Bawku conflict is expected to achieve

It appears a cross-section of the public have expressed their displeasure over the ongoing Asantehene. Otumfuo Osei II's mediation into the age-old chieftaincy conflict that has been bedevilling Bawku.

Bawku, the once vibrant trading hub of the Upper East Region and the entire northern part of Ghana, has become a ghost town for decades because of violent clashes which have led to the loss of lives and destruction of properties, forcing people to leave in droves.

Despite President John Dramani Mahama’s optimism that the ‘Otumfuo Mediation Process’ will lead to finding a lasting solution to the chieftaincy conflict, these critics, including residents of Bawku, have asked the Asantehene not to interfere in the conflict.

They say Otumfuo Osei Tutu II should not interfere in the conflict because he did not start it.

But does the Otumfuo’s mediation constitute an interference in the affairs of another kingdom, or is he dictating who becomes the ruler of another kingdom?

Role of a mediator:

Maybe an explanation of the role of a mediator in conflict resolution will help understand the exact role of the Asantehene.

First of all, a mediator is a neutral third party who assists parties in a conflict to arrive at a settlement. Like the Asantehene is currently doing, the mediator is expected to call for a meeting of the parties in a conflict to discuss the issue(s) at hand and help them find possible solutions.

It is instructive to note that the mediator does not find the solutions to a conflict. S/he helps the parties, who are the decision-makers, to express their positions, listens to their disputes, and searches for a solution.

Via Mediation Arbitration Centre lists the following as the roles for mediators:

- Facilitate communication between both parties.

- Set up a meeting between the parties in the conflict after the appointment of the mediator.

- Review the mediation proceedings – in the first meeting, the mediator requests the parties to jointly sign a form that mentions the rules and framework of the proceeding. Then the mediator goes ahead with explaining how the mediation proceedings are going to happen.

- Invite the parties to give a brief description of the facts from both their perspectives.

- Discuss the issue at hand and try to come up with a solution which is viable to both parties.

So, from the above, it is clear that the Otumfuo is only going to facilitate the process to help find peace in Bawku.

Otumfuo’s record in mediation:

Now, what is the record of the Asantehene in mediation? Can he help find a lasting solution to the Bawku conflict that has been a headache to the country for several years?

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has been credited for saving Ghana from chaos on several occasions.

Here are some of the instances the King of Asanteman helped save the blushes of Ghana.

Saving Ghana from chaos after the 2016 Election

The Asantehene’s mediation also helped maintain peace in Ghana after the 2016 presidential election.

Nathan Kofi Boakye, a retired Commissioner of Police (COP) and current Director of Operations at the Presidency, who is widely known as Commander One, indicated that there would have been chaos after the declaration of the 2016 presidential election results but for the Asantehene’s intervention.

According to Kofi Boakye, who was the Ashanti Regional Commander at the time, it was the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II's intervention that made it possible for the election results to be announced.

The retired COP, who made these remarks in an interview with Opemsuo Radio, on April 16, 2024, explained that Otumfuo engaged all the stakeholders in the election for peace to prevail.

“In fact, when the EC could not announce the result of the 2016 election, it was His Majesty who intervened. It was he (the Otumfuo) who came in for Charlotte Osei to be able to announce the results. I’m telling you plainly. If you know the kind of talks that went on at the Manhyia… Ghanaians must cherish him (the Asantehene) and pray for him to live long,” he said in the Twi dialect.

He reiterated: “I’m telling you, if you know the level of talks that went on for the announcement of the results of the 2016 elections... I can't disclose everything. So, we should give the Asantehene the respect due him.”

Saving Ghana from economic catastrophes

The Asantehene has been credited for saving Ghana from economic catastrophes on a number of occasions.

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor said that but for Otumfuo’s mediation, his government would not have secured an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout, which saved Ghana from any economic catastrophe during his tenure as president.

Speaking in a recent interview with Opemsuo Radio, former President Kufuor said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) decided to throw out a request by his government for a bailout programme because of rumours of some corrupt activities at the Ministry of Finance.

He said that at that time, Ghana had been classified as a Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC), which made it difficult for his government to get the needed funds to run the country and was in dire need of the IMF bailout.

Former President Kufuor said that when the Otumfuo heard that the IMF had thrown out Ghana’s request, he took action, and within days, the Fund accepted Ghana’s request.

The current President, John Dramani Mahama, also credited the Asantehene for helping Ghana to secure an IMF Extended Credit Facility during his first term in office.

He said that the IMF was delaying Ghana’s request for a bailout in 2016, but immediately the Asantehene intervened, the Fund agreed to it.

“Because of that programme, he (Otumfuo) flew to Washington to have talks with Mr Wolfensohn, who together with Otumfuo went and spoke with the IMF Director, Madam Christine Lagarde, and within a short period of time, we had the Extended Credit Facility.

“That was the programme that turned the economy around because under that programme, in 2016, almost for the first time in our history, we did not overspend our budget,” Mahama said.

Mediating the Dagbon chieftaincy conflict:

The Asantehene has also been credited for the role he played in resolving the chieftaincy dispute in the Dagbon Kingdom.

Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said on November 27, 2024, that because of the Asantehene’s leadership, the Dagbon conflict came to an end during his presidency, which has led to him (Akufo-Addo) being installed as a Dagomba chief.

“There are a lot of things you have done for me, some of which I can’t mention in public. But there are some I have to mention, like the Dagbon chieftaincy conflict. The conflict had been raging for about 15 years when I came in, with nobody being able to resolve it.

“President Kufuor appointed you as the chairman of the committee for you to look into the conflict together with the Yagbonwura and Nayiri, and it was during my tenure that it was resolved. I know that if not for your leadership, this would not have happened, and I’m also very grateful for this," he stated.

About the Bawku Conflict:

The conflict stems from ancient historical claims, with the Mamprusi asserting their traditional authority over the Kusasi. British colonial rule also played a significant role in shaping these tensions, as some argue that colonial policies deepened divisions between the groups.

Over time, disputes over chieftaincy, land ownership, and political influence have continued to fuel the conflict, making resolution challenging.

BAI/AE

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