National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has stressed that the enforcement of law and order in Bawku is non-negotiable and must be carried out in a professional, fair, and unbiased manner.
Speaking at the 2025 Samanpiid Festival, an annual cultural celebration of the Kusaug people in the Upper East Region, Mr Nketia emphasized that lasting peace in Bawku can only be achieved when the rule of law is respected and enforced without favoritism.
He underscored the need for continued support for traditional mediation and reconciliation processes, describing them as essential tools for resolving long-standing conflicts in the area.
According to him, security interventions alone cannot guarantee peace without sincere dialogue and community-led reconciliation efforts.
Mr. Asiedu Nketia further highlighted the critical role of traditional authorities in peacebuilding, urging them to remain proactive and effective in promoting harmony among the people.
He noted that the success of any peace initiative largely depends on the commitment of traditional leaders to unity and fairness.
“The quality of every governance is measured by the extent to which minority rights are protected. The recognition of the Kusaug authority in Bawku must not be interpreted to mean the extinguishing of the rights of other minority ethnic groups in the area, to live in peace, to go about their businesses, as free citizens of the Republic of Ghana,” he stated, adding that inclusiveness is fundamental to national stability and development.
Using a symbolic analogy, the NDC Chairman remarked that Kusaug represents the head of the Bawku human body, stressing that no part of the body, whether the head or the legs, can be left behind.
He explained that peace and development in Bawku require collective effort and mutual respect among all groups.
Mr Nketia also called on the Zugraan, the Overlord of Kusaug, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, to continue supporting dialogue, mediation, and reconciliation to sustain and strengthen peace in the area.
“As the Overlord, [you are] responsible for the protection of all inhabitants of Bawku, and not just the Kusaas ethnic group. No peace efforts in Bawku can succeed without your guidance, leadership and unwavering commitment,” Mr. Nketia stated.
He acknowledged Zugraan’s efforts and emphasised that achieving and maintaining peace in Bawku is impossible without the active involvement and leadership of traditional authorities.
Also speaking at the festival, a peace and security expert, Emmanuel Bombande, called on all residents of Bawku and its surrounding communities to embrace coexistence and commit themselves to peacebuilding.
He emphasised that the implementation of law and order remains a critical foundation for sustaining peace, stressing that everyone is protected and safeguarded by the state, regardless of ethnic or political affiliation.
Mr. Bombande commended Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for his well-thought-out mediation process, which ensured that all parties involved in the conflict were given a fair hearing.
He further expressed gratitude to the President of the Republic for implementing the recommendations that emerged from Otumfuo’s peace initiative.
“We have all won,” he noted, explaining that peace efforts should not be seen as a victory for one group over another, but as a collective gain for the entire nation. He urged the people to unite and move forward, rather than allowing themselves to be held back by past tragedies.
Mr. Bombande also encouraged musicians and creative artists in the area to use their talents to promote songs of unity, peace, and coexistence, noting that music has the power to heal wounds and bring communities together.
He also called on all stakeholders to remain committed to dialogue, reconciliation, and mutual respect as the surest path to lasting peace in Bawku.
Thousands of people across the country, including the Majority Leader in parliament, Mahama Ayariga, and other members of parliament attended the event.
The Samanpiid Festival is an annual post-harvest thanksgiving event celebrated by the people of the Kusaug Traditional Area in the Upper East Region of Ghana. It is held to thank God and the ancestral spirits for a successful farming season, as well as for their protection and guidance.
The festival was not always celebrated as a single, and unified event. Before 1987, Samanpiid was celebrated separately by different Kusaas clans, each taking turns to hold the festival at the clan level.
In 1987, all the Kusaas clans came together for the first time to celebrate Samanpiid as a centralized festival. Since then, it has been observed as a unified annual celebration for the entire Kusaug Traditional Area.
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