The spokesperson for the Bawku Naba, David Adoliba, has clarified that the recent disturbances at the Bawku market were a direct result of the disregard for directives issued by the Bawku Traditional Council, which cautioned against mingling between the Kusasi and Mamprusi communities until lasting peace is restored.

According to Mr Adoliba, the directive, which was issued in November 2024, followed attempts by a rival chief to install himself as the Bawku Naba — a move that the traditional authority rejected. In response, the Traditional Council instructed its subjects not to engage in any business activities with the Mamprusi community until the chieftaincy dispute was resolved and the necessary traditional rituals were performed.

“These are traditional matters beyond the control of any individual. By our tradition, if you are in conflict with someone, you don’t integrate or mingle until peace has been properly restored through the appropriate rituals. Doing otherwise can lead to further bloodshed," he said on JoyNews' The Pulse on Thursday, April 10.

He explained that while the Bawku Naba has engaged security officials on numerous occasions, including meetings with the Divisional Police Commander and the military leadership in the area, there was an understanding that Mamprusi traders would not be escorted into the market controlled by the Kusasi community.

Despite these agreements, Mr Adoliba recounted that security forces were deployed in the area three days ago, and on a market day, police officers escorted Mamprusi women into the market.

This, he said, provoked the Kusasi youth, who felt that the security was undermining the Traditional Council’s directive.

He further narrated that the late Fuseini, a respected youth leader who had often worked with security agencies to maintain calm, was shot dead by the police during an attempt to engage and calm the protesting youth.

“Fuseini was always instrumental in ensuring peace between the youth and the security agencies. But on this occasion, when he went to talk to the youth, a police officer opened fire, killing him and injuring others.”

He explained that the subsequent rampage by the youth was a reaction to the killing of Fuseini, not an unprovoked attack on the police as some reports have suggested.

“This incident could have been avoided if the security had respected the directive of the Traditional Council and allowed things to remain as they were until the rightful processes for peace and reconciliation were concluded,” he stressed.

Mr Adoliba called for calm but insisted that tradition must be respected and due process followed to restore peace in Bawku.

His comment comes after one person was killed in the town of Bawku in the Upper East Region, while the private residence of the Bawku Divisional Police Commander, ACP Adamu Seidu, was set on fire during renewed clashes on Wednesday afternoon.

At least two other individuals are reported to be critically injured.

Joy News understands that this incident occurred when one of the factions involved in the prolonged chieftaincy dispute demanded that women from the opposing faction, who were trading in their market, leave.

A scuffle broke out, prompting the police to intervene in an attempt to restore calm. However, some young people allegedly opened fire on the police, leading to a return of gunfire from the officers.

This exchange resulted in the death of one civilian and the injury of two others, which seemingly provoked radical youth to retaliate.

They then proceeded to the police commander's private residence, where they set it ablaze.