By On April 24, 2025, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) issued a firm warning: any attack on its personnel in Bawku, a volatile town in Ghana’s Upper East Region, will trigger a “robust and deliberate” military response. This statement, shared via a post on X by SIKAOFFICIAL🦍, underscores the escalating tensions in the area, where a longstanding chieftaincy dispute between the Kusasi and Mamprusi ethnic groups has fueled violence, displaced thousands, and raised concerns about regional stability.
The Roots of the Conflict
Bawku’s unrest stems from a chieftaincy dispute with origins dating back to British colonial rule, as detailed in a 2023 New Lines Magazine report. The British appointed a Mamprusi chief, a decision that sowed seeds of discord with the Kusasi community. Post-independence, the chieftaincy has changed hands multiple times, often tied to political shifts in Accra.
The Kusasi align with the National Democratic Congress (NDC), while the Mamprusi lean toward the New Patriotic Party (NPP), intertwining ethnic and political rivalries. Since November 2021, violence has surged, with 29 deaths reported between September 2022 and February 2023 alone, according to the Risk Bulletin by Global Initiative.
Arms Trafficking Fuels Violence
The conflict is worsened by the trafficking of high-calibre firearms across Ghana’s porous borders with Burkina Faso and Togo. A 2023 Risk Bulletin highlights how weapons smuggled from Burkina Faso—sometimes linked to suspected violent extremists—enter Bawku, often hidden in vehicles or cargo.
This arms proliferation has shifted the conflict’s nature, with civilians increasingly targeted. The GAF’s warning reflects a broader concern: while Ghana has largely avoided the jihadist violence plaguing the Sahel, Bawku’s strategic location near unstable neighbors makes it a potential hotspot for spillover effects.
Military’s Response and Regional Implications
The GAF, led by Chief of Army Staff Major General Lawrence Kwaku Gbetanu, is taking a hardline stance. During a security assessment visit to Bawku, Gbetanu emphasized collaboration with local leaders like Bawku Naba Asigri Abugrago Asoka II to address root causes while urging troops to remain professional. The military’s presence, including senior officers like Brigadier General Frank Nartey Tei, signals the strategic importance of stabilizing Bawku, a commercial hub near international borders.
A Call for Sustainable Peace
The situation in Bawku highlights the complex interplay of ethnic disputes, political rivalries, and transnational crime in West Africa. While the GAF’s warning aims to deter violence, long-term peace requires addressing the chieftaincy conflict’s root causes and curbing arms trafficking. As Ghana navigates these challenges, the international community watches closely, aware of the broader implications for regional security.
