Bawku crisis: Calls for the removal of Chief Abagre Seidu spark fears of bloodshed - Dauda

Bawku is in the news for the wrong reasons again, as a community once rich in culture and tradition grapples with internal strife and leadership challenges.

Amidst this turmoil, the role of traditional leadership has come under intense scrutiny. Dauda Jawara Salifu, the spokesperson for the Mamprusi in Bawku and a member of the Nayiri Legal Team, recently spoke out against calls for the removal of Chief Abagre Seidu, emphasizing the profound implications such actions could have on the community’s social fabric.

“Don’t forget that he is a father, grandfather, head of family, head of clan, and his spiritual and wise guidance is needed by his people,” Salifu emphasized. His words resonate deeply in a culture where respect for elders and leadership is foundational.

Exiling a leader, he cautions, can lead to devastating consequences. “You cannot exile somebody and ask that they don’t come back to your hometown because when you do, there would be some bloodshed,” he warned, pointing to the fragility of the social structure and the potential for violence if reconciliation is not prioritized.

Salifu’s assertions are grounded in the constitutional framework governing chieftaincy in Ghana. He referenced Article 277, which outlines the qualifications for becoming a chief.

“Nobody has said that Seidu does not hail from Bawku, a royal lineage and that his enskinment was not done according to the custom of the Mamprusi,” he noted, suggesting that the legitimacy of Seidu’s leadership is under scrutiny.

This raises critical questions about tradition and legality, particularly in a society where lineage and cultural practices hold significant weight.

“People say there was an illegality; is it to say that it did not comply with Article 277 or any other provision under the Chieftaincy Act?” Salifu queried, indicating the need for clarity and adherence to established norms.

-MyNewsGH