We humbly request His Royal Highness, the Bawku Naba and the Overlord of Mamprugu, the Nayiri, to call their respective subjects to cease the sporadic attacks in the light of the visit by the President, H. E. John Dramani Mahama, towards an amicable resolution attempt.
We truly empathise with you in the face of this crisis and difficulties. We humbly and respectfully call on you to instruct or command your subjects or persons who are masquerading as subjects to exercise restraint and cease the sporadic attacks as this is counterproductive to your efforts in attempting an amicable settlement.
We commend the President for his swiftness in visiting the Bawku Naba and the Nayiri, in his effort towards ensuring that the protracted conflict is settled amicably and to create the enabling environment for development efforts. An effort initiated in the past by the former President, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is equally commendable.
We also commend the Bawku Naba and the Nayiri as well as the His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and his Committee of Eminent Chiefs for their show of leadership in these trying times as far as the conflict resolution is concerned. It is observed that the visit and reception of the President is a good gesture, which appears conciliatory and shows the willingness of both parties to attempt a peaceful resolution in good faith, which is very commendable.
However, these great initiatives risk falling short of achieving their intended objectives in the face of the continuous sporadic reprisal attacks by subjects or persons impersonating as subjects of both parties, especially during periods within and immediately after the visit of the President. We are of the firm belief that these sporadic attacks are not sanctioned by the Bawku Naba and the Nayiri, and therefore, the perpetrators do not have their blessings.
It must be noted that these attacks are inimical and counterproductive to their efforts, and they retard the hard work being done by all stakeholders in search of an amicable resolution. In the light of the above, below are some proposed interventions:
1. The Bawku Naba should issue a statement directing or commanding his subjects or persons masquerading as subjects to ceasefire or any form of attacks on Mamprusis or any other group or persons.
2. The Nayiri should similarly issue a statement also directing or commanding his subjects or persons masquerading as subjects to ceasefire or any form of attacks on Kusasis or any other group or persons. This is to serve as formal communication or command to their subjects or persons masquerading as subjects who may be engaged in such activities; who may not actually be aware that their activities such as the attacks are against the will of the Bawku Naba and the Nayiri, respectively.
3. It is our firm belief that Bawku Naba and the Nayiri would similarly act swiftly just as the President visited them, by delivering these ceasefire directives to demonstrate their readiness in good faith to attempt an amicable settlement.
4. Even though the core principles of mediation strive on the sanctity of confidentiality, the resolution of a protracted conflict such as this is a special case which requires that the resolution mechanism carry subjects, citizens and indeed all stakeholders along by providing regular progress reports and updates. This does not leave especially subjects in the dark as if nothing is going on. Without these updates, sporadic reprisal attacks are bound to be undertaken by these persons who are unaware of the strides achieved under the resolution process, thereby frustrating ongoing settlement efforts.
5. That said, an establishment of Public Relations Unit by the Mediation Committee of Eminent Chiefs would be useful in providing relevant progress reports and updates regularly. The unit would readily also provide stakeholders with relevant and accurate information leaving no room for speculations and conspiracy theories which frustrate resolution efforts of stakeholders leading to reprisal attacks and re-escalations.
In conclusion, it is our firm belief that a peaceful resolution is attainable and would be achieved at the end of the day if both parties attempt the resolution in good faith. We wish the President, Mediation Committee of Eminent Chiefs, the Bawku Naba and the Nayiri and their subjects and indeed all stakeholders the best of luck as they attempt an amicable and sustainable resolution.
By: Peter Apuko Awuni
Executive Director
Centre for Traditional Leadership, Culture, Conflict, Law and Development (CCCLaD)
(+233204849011)
Profile of Executive Director
Peter Awuni Apuko is a PhD Law student of the University of Ghana School of Law, an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) specialist, a Doctoral Fellow of the Institute of Certified Business Analyst and Consultants of Ghana.
He also holds an LLM in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the University of Ghana School of Law and an LLB from KAAF. Professional programmes undertaken in the area of ADR include Executive Master Alternative Dispute Resolution, Professional Executive Master in Chieftaincy, Law and Sustainable Development Practice as well as Professional Executive Certificate in Domestic Arbitration from the Institute of Paralegal Training and Leadership Studies.
He holds a Certificate in Court Connected Alternative Dispute Resolution (CCADR) from Judicial Training Institute, Ghana, a Diploma in Legal Studies, Diploma in Basic Education, Bachelor of Education; a Diploma in Psychology, Diploma in Mental Health Studies, Diploma in Human Resources, some studies in MS. Clinical Psychology-Counselling among others. He is a Doctoral Fellow Member of the Institute of Certified Business Analyst and Consultants of Ghana, Ghana National Association of ADR Practitioners.
He is the founder and Director of the Centre for Traditional Leadership, Culture, Conflict, Law and Development (CCCLaD) based in Accra, Ghana. CCCLaD is focused on sensitizing and building the capacities of traditional leaders such as chiefs and queen mothers and community groups on the law on their rights and obligations, human rights, Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms, democratic governance and development.
Source: Media Without Borders/mwbonline.org/Ghana
