Ghana Deploys Troops to Bawku Amid Renewed Chieftaincy Violence

The Ghanaian government has dispatched additional military personnel to the northeastern town of Bawku following a deadly resurgence in a long-running chieftaincy dispute. The violence, rooted in historical rivalry between the Mamprusi and Kusaasi ethnic groups, escalated last week after a Kusaasi chief and three students were fatally shot.

Security officials reported that unidentified gunmen opened fire at a local secondary school, killing the students, while the chief was targeted separately in a suspected act of reprisal. These incidents have reignited tensions in the region, which has experienced intermittent conflict over succession to the Bawku chieftaincy for decades.

In response, the government has reinforced security in the area and imposed a nightly curfew from 14:00 GMT to 06:00 GMT to prevent further bloodshed and ensure the safety of civilians. Authorities have also begun evacuating students from affected schools.

Although Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II had previously led peacebuilding efforts between the rival factions, presidential spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu stated that recent developments necessitated a stronger security intervention. He added that while dialogue remains essential, restoring order is now the immediate priority.

The government has not revealed the number of troops deployed, but sources confirm that military forces were already stationed in the area due to prior unrest. The Bawku conflict remains one of Ghana’s most persistent ethnic and traditional disputes, posing significant challenges to national cohesion and regional stability.