The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has clarified that his involvement in resolving the long-running Bawku conflict was purely as a mediator, not an arbitrator, stressing that he was never tasked to determine who was right or wrong.
Presenting the Bawku Conflict Mediation Report to President John Dramani Mahama at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, December 16, the Asantehene said his responsibility was to establish facts and help lay a foundation for lasting peace.
“I am not here to give judgment on who was right or wrong. I am here to present the facts as they are, so that we can have peace,” he stated.
Otumfuo recalled that nearly two and a half years ago, he was invited by the previous administration to intervene in the conflict, which he described as a tragic crisis that had claimed many innocent lives and evolved into a major national security concern.
Following the change in government, he noted, President Mahama promptly reaffirmed the mediation mandate, allowing the peace process to continue without interruption.
“Almost a year ago, the people of Ghana handed the governance of this country to your Excellency, and you wasted no time in reaffirming the mandate for the Bawku mediation. By God’s grace, we are gathered here today to present the report of the mission entrusted to us,” he said.
According to the Asantehene, the report has been submitted for the President’s consideration, with any further action now resting entirely with the government.
“We present the report for your kind consideration and for whatever action you and your government deem appropriate,” he added.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II expressed appreciation to both President Mahama and his predecessor for the confidence reposed in him to handle such a sensitive national issue, describing peace and security as the most critical responsibilities of the state.
Reaffirming the nature of the process, he emphasised that mediation, not arbitration, guided the work.
“This was a mediation, not an arbitration. I am not here to say who was wrong or right. I have presented the facts as they are, and that should bind all of us,” he stressed.
The submission of the report marks the culmination of months of intensive dialogue led by the Asantehene and forms part of broader national reconciliation efforts aimed at restoring stability and lasting peace in Bawku
