The long-running chieftaincy dispute in Bawku has taken a dire turn, prompting two New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidates to halt their campaign activities.

Dr John Kingsley Krugu and Paul Alale Abogiri, representing Zebilla and Bawku Central respectively, have suspended their campaigns due to escalating tensions in the region.

Recent developments

Abagre’s return to Bawku on Thursday amid heavy security reignited tensions.

A Bolgatanga High Court has issued an arrest warrant for Abagre, who was resisted at Nayiri palace.
John Krugu called for firm government intervention while Abogiri stressed the need for government action to maintain peace.

The NPP gained significant support in the Kusaug area with over 80,000 votes in the 2020 elections.

However, recent events have jeopardized this progress.

Below is the full statement:

In a statement, Krugu expressed that recent developments in the Kusaug Traditional Area (KTA) have raised fears of a rekindling of the Bawku crisis following a series of legal and political upheavals that threaten stability in the region.

“Last February, Nayiri flayed Alhaji Seidu Abagre as a Bawku Naba rival. This act, quickly condemned by the government as illegitimate and a threat to national security, exacerbated the volatile situation in Bawku and its environs. The government’s immediate and unequivocal response was a testament to its commitment to maintaining peace in the region by providing a sense of security to the people.”

“In a statement condemning the alleged cover-up issued on February 15, 2023, the government reiterated that the current Bawku Naba, Zugraan Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, was the duly recognized Bawku Chief. This recognition, published by both the Upper Regional House and the National House of Chiefs, serves as a pillar of stability in the region, keeping the public well-informed,” the statement reads in part.

Dr. John Kingsley Krugu also stated that a High Court in Bolgatanga has issued an arrest warrant for Alhaji Seidu Abagre who remained in Nalerigu “under his purported skin, apparently to seek cover under Nayiri to avoid arrest. Attempts to enforce the court order were resisted at the Nayiri palace.”

The area enjoyed relative peace until Abagre’s return to Bawku. Krugu called for firm government intervention to address the issues.

Separately, Paul Alale Abogiri, PC for Bawku Central, said the situation urgently calls for government action to protect the relative peace that has been maintained in the area in recent months.

However, Abogiri’s decision to suspend his campaign activities was not well received by the party. In a statement, the NPP chairman, Abdulai Issaka, noted that the PC’s actions were taken without consulting the party, describing them as “malicious”.

“The suspension of campaigning by the NPP PC for Bawku Central citing recent developments was done without any consultation and it is not the tradition of our party for the PC to take such arbitrary actions without recourse to party executives. This is malicious and aims to throw our campaign into disarray. Paul Alale Abogiri’s action is a clear sign of disloyalty to the party and our presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

The PC should be able to distinguish between its tribal interest and the collective interest of our party,” the constituency president’s statement read.

Issaka, the party chairman, called on the government to maintain neutrality in the ongoing conflict.

“We call on the government to henceforth adhere to their role of ensuring fairness in the treatment of both factions in the chieftaincy disaster. They should crack down on any agitators and enforce the law fully so that those who take the law into their own hands face consequences.

“Our president has made it clear in the past that he is not a royal of Bawku and that any aggrieved party in the Bawku chieftaincy dispute should seek redress through the proper channels. So why the continued shuffling and maneuvering? The unfortunate issuance of an arrest warrant for Naa Alhaji Seidu Abagre has been settled by a competent court.

“The government should stay away and stop being influenced by anyone who threatens violence. Let the aggrieved go to court.”

Meanwhile, the NPP’s Upper East Regional Deputy Director of Communications, Andrew Atariwini, has issued a statement discussing the political implications of the government’s inaction.

“Our political research indicated that the NPP was ready to share the area with our NDC counterparts. However, recent events have put this progress at risk, effectively bringing us back to square one – a setback that could still be avoided if the government acted promptly and decisively.

The decision to assist in the return of this impostor who eagerly presents himself as a chief has dealt a serious blow to the momentum of our party and undermined the integrity of Bawku’s legitimate authorities. As the government in power, we must act decisively on this issue while the situation is fresh.

The Kusaug zone comprising Zebilla, Binduri, Bawku Central, Garu, Tempani and Pusiga contributed over 80,000 votes for the NPP in the 2020 election, the largest of the three main zones (including West and Central).

“Prior to this unfortunate and unwarranted disruption, we were poised to increase these numbers significantly. The government must avoid the perception of speaking with a forked tongue. I add my voice to those calling for a firm, fair and immediate response to sustain the peace we have achieved in Bawku and to end the needless loss of life. This is a call to action in the interest of peace and I make this call with the utmost conviction,” he wrote on his official Facebook platform.