The Nayiri, Overlord of Mamprugu, Naa Bohugu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, has formally rejected the mediation report and recommendations presented by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on the long-standing Bawku Chieftaincy Dispute, describing the document as procedurally flawed, legally untenable, and constitutionally impermissible.
In a statement issued by the Mamprugu Traditional Council on December 17, 2025, the Nayiri distanced himself and the entire Mamprugu people from the report presented to President John Dramani Mahama on December 16, 2025, stating that it does not reflect his engagements with Otumfuo or those of his duly constituted mediation team.
According to the Nayiri, the Asantehene explicitly described his role in the process as that of a mediator and not an arbitrator, yet the report purportedly passes judgment and prescribes enforcement measures, which he said contradicts the very essence of mediation.
He further disclosed that despite repeated requests, no Terms of Reference were ever provided to guide the mediation process, contrary to expectations under both the previous and current administrations.
The Nayiri questioned how a mediation process could lead to unilateral determinations without affording parties the opportunity to review, comment on, or respond to the conclusions reached.
“At no point were the parties invited to engage with or respond to the conclusions said to have been reached,” the statement said, adding that any deliberations were conducted without the knowledge, participation, or consent of Mamprugu.
The Nayiri argued that a proper mediation report must accurately reflect the positions of the parties, identify areas of agreement and disagreement, and record any consensual outcomes, rather than substitute the mediator’s personal opinions for negotiated positions.
He described the recommendations as a unilateral determination imposed without due process and in violation of the principles of natural justice.
He also raised concerns about what he described as factual inaccuracies and an imbalance in the report, alleging that it favoured one party’s narrative while largely omitting Mamprugu’s case.
The Nayiri categorically denied claims that he ever agreed to the continued recognition of Aninchema as Bawku Naba.
The statement further expressed alarm that both parties to the mediation were absent during the presentation of the report, which is now being portrayed as having their acceptance.
The Nayiri questioned why mandated representatives of the parties were not given the opportunity to comment, while other organisations were selectively invited.
The Nayiri said he felt “betrayed, disappointed, and deeply hurt” by the process and expressed concern over reported statements attributed to the President suggesting that government intended to issue a definitive position within 24 hours based on the report.
“Such an approach will not advance the peace we all seek,” he cautioned, urging the President to engage fully with all parties and the mediator before taking any action based on what he described as a deeply flawed document.
Reaffirming his commitment to peace, the Nayiri stressed that the mediation ended in a clear deadlock, with no consensus reached between the Mamprugu and Kusasi sides.
He said Mamprugu made concessions in good faith at the request of Otumfuo concessions later acknowledged by President Mahama but these were rejected outright by the Kusasi side.
He maintained that under the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010 (Act 795), any mediation report should have reported the deadlock rather than attempting to reach final determinations or legal conclusions.
While calling on the people of Mamprugu to remain calm and law-abiding, the Nayiri emphasized that peace cannot be built on injustice or imposed outcomes.
He reiterated that no part of Mamprugu’s ancestral heritage would be ceded through what he described as an orchestrated and unjust process.
The Nayiri urged the media, the public, and all stakeholders to exercise caution in characterising ongoing efforts to resolve the Bawku Chieftaincy Dispute, assuring that he will further engage Otumfuo and the Government of Ghana and issue a comprehensive statement in due course.
