Security forces struggled to keep control outside Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Monday, December 1, 2025, as rival Bawku chieftaincy factions clashed during the end of mediation talks.
Heavy police and military were at all palace entrances. They stepped in after one group started celebrating inside, which sparked the fight.
The cause of the skirmish is not clear yet.
The mediation, led by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, started in April 2025. It included meetings from April 28 to 30 to restart talks. After a short pause, sessions resumed on May 13, bringing some calm to Bawku.
The decades-old dispute between Kusasi and Mamprusi groups has caused many deaths, property damage, and curfews.
Otumfuo was asked by the government to help find peace. His final ruling was expected today, but no details are out yet. The Asantehene will report the outcome to President John Dramani Mahama soon.
Garu MP Dr Thomas Anaba urged all sides to accept the verdict for lasting peace. “We have lost too much—lives, time, and businesses. This should be a new start,” he said.
