Personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) have removed Alhaji Seidu Abagre, the rival Mamprusi chief, from Bawku Township in the Upper East Region, in line with recommendations contained in the Otumfuo Asantehene Osei Tutu II mediation report on the protracted Bawku conflict.

The action was confirmed by the Ministry of the Interior in a brief statement posted on its official Facebook page on Wednesday, December 24.

“This afternoon, personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) removed Alhaji Seidu Abagre from Bawku, pursuant to the recommendations of the Otumfuo Asantehene Osei Tutu II mediation report regarding the Bawku affair. Alhaji Seidu Abagre is safe in the care of the security agencies,” the statement said.

Following the rival chief's removal, unconfirmed reports say there were sporadic gunshots that may have left casualties. But the Interior Ministry has yet to comment on that.

As part of efforts to find a lasting solution to the long-running Bawku chieftaincy dispute, the Otumfuo mediation committee recommended that Seidu Abagre, who was recently installed by the Mamprusi side as a rival chief, be recalled to Nalerigu by the Overlord of Mamprugu, the Nayiri.

The committee proposed that Mr Abagre be reassigned to perform a different traditional role at the Palace of the Nayiri in Nalerigu, rather than remain in Bawku as a chief.

Alternatively, the mediation report provides that if Mr Abagre chooses to stay in Bawku, he must do so strictly as a private citizen and not present himself as a chief.

“The final resolution of the Bawku Matters requires that Mr Seidu Abagre be recalled to Nalerigu by the Nayiri to be reassigned to play another traditional role at the Palace of the Nayiri, assisted by the State. Alternatively, he may choose to stay in Bawku as an ordinary citizen of the community but not to pose as Bawku Naba,” Otumfuo Osei Tutu II stated while presenting the report.

The recommendations were formally presented to President John Dramani Mahama at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, December 16.

Otumfuo also reiterated that the legal position on the matter is settled, noting that the Supreme Court of Ghana has affirmed Asigri Abugrago Azoka II as the lawful Bawku Naba.