Nayiri Rejects Otumfuo-Led Mediation Report on Bawku Chieftaincy Dispute

The Nayiri, Overlord of Mamprugu, has formally and unequivocally rejected the mediation report presented by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on the protracted Bawku Chieftaincy Dispute, describing it as procedurally flawed, legally untenable, and constitutionally impermissible.

In a strongly worded statement issued on December 16, 2025, the Nayiri distanced himself and the people of Mamprugu from what he termed a “so-called mediation report and recommendations,” which was presented to President John Dramani Mahama. According to him, the contents of the report do not reflect his engagements with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II or those of his duly constituted mediation team.

The Nayiri stressed that Otumfuo expressly acted as a mediator and not an arbitrator, yet the document allegedly goes beyond mediation by passing judgment and proposing enforceable measures. He argued that such actions contradict the fundamental principles of mediation under Ghana’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010 (Act 795).

He further revealed that despite repeated formal requests, no Terms of Reference were ever provided to guide the mediation process. He questioned how a mediation process could legitimately reach determinations and seek enforcement without allowing parties to review, comment on, or respond to the reasoning behind such conclusions.

According to the Nayiri, Mamprugu was never given the opportunity to engage with or react to the conclusions said to have been reached. He maintained that any deliberations leading to the report were conducted without the knowledge, participation, or consent of Mamprugu, thereby violating the principle of natural justice, particularly audi alteram partem (the right to be heard).

He also accused the report of factual inaccuracies, imbalance, and selective reliance on committee reports and court decisions, while largely omitting Mamprugu’s historical and legal position. The Nayiri categorically denied claims that he ever agreed to the continued recognition of Aninchema as Bawku Naba.

The Nayiri expressed deep disappointment that both parties to the mediation were absent when the report was presented, yet it is being portrayed as having their acceptance. He described the process as one that appeared “carefully orchestrated” to prejudice Mamprugu and warned that he would not remain passive in the face of injustice.

While reaffirming his commitment to peace, dialogue, and stability, the Nayiri insisted that peace cannot be built on imposed outcomes or defective processes. He noted that the mediation process ended in a clear deadlock, with no consensus reached, and argued that any credible report should have reflected this reality rather than purporting to reach final determinations.

The Nayiri also expressed concern over statements attributed to President Mahama suggesting that government might issue a definitive position within 24 hours based on the report. He urged the President to engage fully with all parties before taking any action.

He called on the people of Mamprugu to remain calm and law-abiding, reiterating that not “even an inch” of Mamprugu’s ancestral heritage would be ceded through what he described as an unjust process.

The statement, he said, was issued to clarify his position and prevent misinformation. He added that he would continue engagements with Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the Government of Ghana and would issue a more comprehensive statement in due course.

Peace, unity, and justice, the Nayiri concluded, remain the guiding principles of his engagement with the Bawku Chieftaincy Dispute.