The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has cautioned former Zebilla MP, Cletus Avoka, against making public comments he says could inflame tensions and derail ongoing peace efforts in Bawku.
Otumfuo raised the concern while presenting the final mediation report on the Bawku conflict to President John Dramani Mahama at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. He singled out the former legislator for what he described as provocative and unhelpful pronouncements.
“My son, Cletus Avoka, if he is here, must be very careful with the things he says publicly. This is a very delicate situation. We are trying to bring people together as brothers and sisters, and some of these statements do not help the peace we seek,” the Asantehene said.
He stressed that Ghana’s laws clearly recognise the Bawku Naaba as the legitimate overlord and that this position must be respected. However, he warned against media commentary capable of inciting the opposing side and undermining reconciliation efforts.
“The Bawku Naaba is the Bawku Naaba. The law is on his side, and we accept that. But making statements on radio and elsewhere that provoke the other side will not help. Where we are now is reconciliation,” he emphasised.
Otumfuo further revealed that the mediation process involved close engagement with both the Mamprusi and Kusasi communities, highlighting shared family and social ties as a foundation for lasting peace.
He cited examples of intermarriage and long-standing coexistence between the two groups, urging all stakeholders to prioritise unity and restraint in public discourse to sustain the gains made in the peace process.
