You stepped forward to assist your nation – Mahama backs Otumfuo’s mediation in Bawku crisis – Nsemkeka
President John Mahama has expressed strong confidence in the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to help broker lasting peace in Bawku through his ongoing mediation efforts.
Speaking during a courtesy call on him by the Asantehene and a delegation of eminent chiefs on Monday, 2nd June, Mr Mahama commended Otumfuo for his remarkable leadership in resolving the protracted Dagbon chieftaincy dispute.
The resolution of the 16-year-old conflict, he noted, was a testament to Otumfuo’s steady and unifying influence.
“Through your steady hand and moral support, as chair of the committee of eminent chiefs, you led Dagbon from years of painful division into an era of reconciliation and renewed leadership,” the former President remarked.
He praised the Asantehene’s willingness to take on yet another complex national challenge, this time in the conflict-prone Bawku area in the Upper East Region.
“You stepped forward to assist our nation in another moment of great need. Your Majesty’s unwavering efforts to mediate the Bawku conflict, though complex and challenging, offer our country a renewed sense of hope through quiet diplomacy and cultural sensitivity and unwavering resolve,” Mr Mahama stated.
“You are helping to pave the way towards peace in one of the most fragile areas of our Republic. I wish you well in this endeavour, and we all have confidence that lasting peace will come to Bawku,” he added.
The Asantehene’s intervention in Bawku comes at a time of heightened tension, with various stakeholders calling for a sustainable, non-partisan approach to peacebuilding in the area.