Bawku Crisis: Calls for the removal of Chief Abagre Seidu spark fears of bloodshed – Dauda

Bawku is once again in the spotlight for internal conflicts and leadership challenges, as this culturally rich community faces a period of strife. Traditional leadership, a cornerstone of the community, has come under intense examination.

Dauda Jawara Salifu, spokesperson for the Mamprusi in Bawku and a member of the Nayiri Legal Team, recently voiced concerns over calls to remove Chief Abagre Seidu, emphasising the potentially serious consequences of such actions on the community’s social cohesion.

“Don’t forget that he is a father, grandfather, head of the family, head of the clan, and his people need his spiritual and wise guidance,” Salifu remarked, stressing the cultural importance of respecting elders and traditional leaders.

He cautioned against the idea of exiling Chief Seidu, warning that such a decision could incite unrest.

“You cannot exile somebody and ask that they don’t come back to your hometown because when you do, there would be some bloodshed,” Salifu stated, highlighting the delicate balance within the social structure and the risks of conflict without reconciliation.

Salifu grounded his position in Ghana’s constitutional framework on chieftaincy, referencing Article 277, which specifies the qualifications for becoming a chief. “Nobody has said that Seidu does not hail from Bawku, a royal lineage, and that his enskinment was not done according to the custom of the Mamprusi,” he noted, indicating the complexity of the legitimacy debate around Chief Seidu.

This situation raises crucial questions around tradition and legality in Bawku, a society deeply rooted in lineage and cultural practices. “People say there was an illegality; is it to say that it did not comply with Article 277 or any other provision under the Chieftaincy Act?” Salifu asked, underscoring the need for clear adherence to established norms.