Setting the Record Straight

Dear Dr. John Kingsley Krugu,

I have carefully read your statement titled ‘’For Immediate Release’’. dated 25^th October, 2024, concerning the recent developments regarding Bawku, and I must address the inaccuracies and one-sided narrative you have presented. I provide below, a response to each of your points, from my perspective as a Mamprusi just as you have done as a Kusasi.

1. Concern about Recent Developments:

It is misleading to suggest that actions taken by the Nayiri, the King of Mamprugu, are designed to "reignite" the Bawku crisis. The enskinment of Alhaji Seidu Abagre as Bawku Naaba was an exercise of long-standing traditional rites that predate colonial and modern political arrangements. If there is concern about peace, it should focus on respecting these traditional processes rather than framing them as a provocation.

2. The Purported Enskinment by the Nayiri:

The description of the enskinment as "illegible" and a threat to national security ignores historical context. The Nayiri has always had the authority to install chiefs in Bawku, a role that is deeply rooted in the governance of Mamprugu. Only the Nayiri, has the traditional authority as the King of Mamprugu, to enskin a Bawku Naaba, a role that dates back centuries. The attempt to invalidate this authority is a recent development driven by political motives rather than historical accuracy.

3. Recognition of Zugraan Asigri Abugrago Azoka II:

The government's recognition of your Aninchema Asigri Abugrago Azoka is not a substitute for the cherished culture and tradition of the great Mamprugu Kingdom. We see your so-called Zugraan as a government appointee which is alien to the laws of Ghana. For your information "gazette" does not validate an invalid imposter.

4. Government's Directive to Security Agencies:

The directive to arrest Bawku Naaba is what the court has thrown to the dogs described as illegal. If there is anybody who needs to be arrested, then it should be your Zugraan whose father was described in 1983 by a court of competent jurisdiction as a commoner.

5. Resistance to Arrest at the Nayiri’s Palace:

The portrayal of resistance at the Nayiri's palace as an act of defiance disregards the role of the Nayiri as a custodian of culture and tradition. Seeking sanctuary with the Nayiri is a longstanding cultural practice, and the use of force to disrupt this is a violation of traditional norms that could lead to further unrest. This sacrilegious and repugnant act should never be dreamt of by anyone ever again.

6. Government's Efforts to Ensure Peace:

While peace is a shared goal, it must be based on mutual respect for customs and traditions. Any approach, which appears to favour one side of the dispute without acknowledging the historical context, risks deepening divisions rather than bridging them.

7. Appeals Court Ruling and Legal Proceedings:

The legal back-and-forth, including the overturning of arrest warrants, highlights the complexity of this issue. However, it is crucial to recognize that legal decisions alone cannot resolve disputes that are fundamentally about tradition, culture, and history. The Mamprusi have a legitimate claim based on centuries-old traditions that must be acknowledged. The government and stakeholders must allow the rightful establishments; the National House of Chiefs and courts, to address these matters with a balanced perspective that honours the rights and customs of all people involved. Actions that suggest a disregard for the authority of the Nayiri will only deepen divisions.

8. Abandonment of the Attorney General’s Appeal:

The decision of the Attorney General to abandon the appeal has saved the government from further embarrassment as these are not matters for the government to take sides and twist the arms of Mamprusi just to favour Kussasi. It important to know that government inconsistency and confusion as well as failure to understand the depth of the issue at hand is the cause of all this mess.

9. Return of Alhaji Seidu Abagre to Bawku:

Bawku Naaba, Alhaji Seidu Abagre’s return to Bawku should not be seen as a provocation but as an affirmation of his traditional role, which was legitimately conferred by the Nayiri. Attempts to paint this as a deliberate attempt to instigate conflict ignore the traditional authority that underpins his enskinment. Where did you expect Naa Seidu Abagre to go rather than Bawku? For centuries, the Bawku chieftaincy has been under the custodianship of the Nayiri, and any deviation from this established order represents a departure from recognized and respected traditions.

10. Acts of Provocation:

The framing of recent developments as "acts of provocation" is misleading. The Mamprusi people and their leadership have a right to uphold their traditions, and doing so is not an attack on peace but a defence of their cultural heritage. True provocation lies in attempting to delegitimize these traditions.

11. Right to Self-Determination of the Kusaug People:

Self-determination is a fundamental right, but it cannot be used to erase or overshadow the historical rights of other groups. The Nayiri’s authority over Bawku is an established fact that has been recognized for generations. Any attempt to challenge this must be based on respectful dialogue rather than aggressive political manoeuvring. The recent political creation of something called the Kusaug Traditional Area does not erase or replace the centuries of heritage, nor does it invalidate the Nayiri’s traditional role.

12. Call for Government Action Against Bawku Naaba, Alhaji Seidu Abagre:

The call for the government to arrest and prosecute Bawku Naaba, Alhaji Seidu Abagre, Naa Sheriga II, is an escalation that could lead to further instability. But why do you always call on the government to come to your aid? You cannot always ride on the wings of government to claim legitimacy to the skins of Bawku, the truth will expose you.

13. Threat to Take Further Action:

Statements suggesting potential further action could be interpreted as a threat to peace rather than a call for it. Any unilateral actions that seek to bypass dialogue and reconciliation will only deepen divisions and harm the prospects for a lasting solution. The Mamprusi have resolved not to kill the people they want to rule, so they are using the legal processes available. Why don’t you emulate this example and stop threatening people with guns, arrests and so on?

14. Suspension of Campaign and Party Activities:

Suspending your campaign does not address the underlying issue, which is the failure to recognize and respect the traditional authority that has governed Bawku for centuries. Real peace will only come from acknowledging the rights and roles of all communities, including those of the Mamprusi.

15. Call for Calm and Rule of Law:

We support your call for calm and respect for the rule of law, but the law must be applied fairly. It cannot be used to marginalize the traditional rights of the Mamprusi people. The path to peace lies in upholding traditions and engaging in open and respectful dialogue, not in one-sided interpretations of legality.

Thank you.

Salifu Hamza Iddrisu

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