NABA AZOKA II is the only Bawku NABA

-Kusaug Traditional Council rejects new chief

The Kusaug Traditional Council has affirmed that Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, remains the only recognized and duly gazette Chief of Bawku.

It has therefore called on all residents of Bawku municipality to resist the urge to be drawn into confrontations likely to culminate into degeneration of the security situation in the area.

A statement signed by Wan-Naba, Naba Thomas Abila, Secretary to the Kusaug Traditional Council regretted the needless loss of lives that characterized the conflict and attempts by some persons to exploit the conflict for their vested interests.

It expressed worry about the purported enskinment of a Bawku Chief and the implications of same for ongoing peace-building efforts by the traditional council, government and the international community in the area.

The Council expressed appreciation to government for its intervention on the issue and assurance given that any development likely to undermine the peace and security of the area would be dealt with in accordance with the laws of the state.

“We remain peace-loving people and would continue to support ongoing efforts to restore lasting peace in our municipality.

On February 15, 2023, the Mamprusi faction of the protracted Bawku conflict was at the palace of the overlord of Mamprugu (Nayiri), Naa Bohugu Mahama Abdulai II for the enskinment of a new Bawku Naba despite the recognition of Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II by the government and the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs as the legitimate ruler of the area.

The action of the Nayiri, who is the kingmaker for Mamprugu, Bawku and other areas in the Upper East Region, is considered a disregard for the current Bawku Naba and could lead to more bloody clashes in the conflict-prone town.

Government condemned the purported enskinment of a new Bawku Naba.

In a press statement signed and issued by the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the government described the purported enskinment as “illegal and a threat to National Security.”

Some five Members of Parliament from the Kusaug traditional area condemned the enskinment of a new Bawku Naba in Nalegiru. 

The concerned lawmakers of the Bawku Central, Binduri, Zebilla, Pusiga, and Tempane constituencies said they need peace to prevail to enable them develop their respective constituencies.

On February 18, 2023, a bench warrant was issued by the Bolgatanga High Court for the arrest of Alhaji Seidu Abagre and the King of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, Naa Bohugu Mahami Abdulai Sherigah II, and his kingmakers under section 71 of the criminal and other offenses procedure Act 1960(ACT 30).

The warrant also directed the arrest of Alhaji Seidu Abagre, who was enskinned as the new chief of Bawku by the Nayiri despite the recognition of Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II as the overlord of Bawku

However, an attempt by military personnel to arrest the King of Mamprugu and the newly enskinned Bawku chief on Sunday, February 19, 2023, was resisted by the youth who blocked the road leading to the Nayiri palace at Nalerigu in the North East region.

On February 21, 2023, the High Court rescinded the arrest warrant.

Fighting erupts at Nyangbandi, Wenchiki in Chereponi District

Fighting erupted Thursday morning at the  Nyangbandi and Wenchiki communities in the Chereponi District of the North-East Region, following the enskinment of a rival chief.

The fighting starting from Nyangbandi and spread to Wenchiki, with fears that it would escalate to the Chereponi Town.

There are reports of some deaths through shooting, while several houses have been burnt.

A source in the area, who briefed the Ghana News Agency, said government workers fled the area to the Chereponi Town.

The GNA gathered that the Paramount Chief of Chereponi wanted to enskin someone as chief of Nyangbandi while the Chief of Wenchiki, a town under Chereponi District, also wanted to enskin a different person for the same community.

Tension then started brewing, and personnel from the security services were sent to the Chief of Wenchiki to prevail on him not to go ahead with the enskinment.

However, he went ahead and enskined the chief this morning (Thursday), a situation, which angered the supporters of the other person, whom the Chief of Chereponi had wanted to enskin, resulting in the fight.

GNA