Sekou Nkrumah, son of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, has attributed the long-standing Bawku conflict to political decisions taken during his father’s administration, arguing that the issue has since evolved into a deeply politicised dispute.
Speaking on Asaase Radio, Sekou Nkrumah said the roots of the Bawku chieftaincy conflict date back to the early years of Ghana’s independence, when political interference altered the traditional authority structure in the area. According to him, the installation of an overlord in Bawku under Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was a politically driven decision that disrupted the existing traditional system.
Although he expressed sympathy for his father’s broader vision for national development, Sekou Nkrumah acknowledged that the move contributed significantly to the chieftaincy dispute, now widely known as the Mamprusi–Kusasi conflict.
Reading from a document titled “The Bawku Chieftaincy Dispute: Historical, Legitimacy and Political Interference”, he explained that the colonial administration had recognised an uncontested traditional authority in Bawku. However, this structure was altered after independence when a parallel traditional system was created to serve political interests.
He argued that the political manipulation of chieftaincy positions became a tool for rewarding loyalists and sidelining traditional authorities who did not support the Convention People’s Party (CPP). This, he said, marked the beginning of the recurring conflict in the area.
Sekou Nkrumah further explained that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s actions were influenced by electoral dynamics at the time, noting that support patterns during the 1951, 1954 and 1956 elections shaped political decisions regarding traditional leadership. He pointed out that while the Mamprusi largely supported the Northern People’s Party, the Kusasi aligned with the CPP, deepening political divisions.
He also cited a well-known quote attributed to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, in which traditional rulers opposed to his government were warned of removal, as evidence of the political approach taken toward chieftaincy institutions.
According to Sekou Nkrumah, the politicisation of the Bawku chieftaincy dispute did not end with his father’s overthrow, but continued under subsequent regimes, including the National Liberation Council, the PNDC and later the NDC administrations.
He argued that the persistence of political interests in the conflict has made resolution difficult, adding that successive governments have struggled to address the issue because it continues to serve political purposes.
Sekou Nkrumah made the comments as efforts continue to resolve the Bawku conflict through mediation led by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
0 Comments