I feel betrayed, disappointed, and deeply hurt

Otumfuo’s mediation report on the Bawku dispute has been sharply rejected by the Nayiri of Mamprugu, Naa Bohugu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, who described it as “procedurally flawed” and “unilaterally imposed.”

The Overlord distanced himself and the Mamprugu Traditional Council from the document presented to President John Dramani Mahama a day earlier.

“I must state clearly and without reservation that the so-called report and recommendations do not reflect my engagements with Otumfuo, nor those of my duly constituted mediation team,” he said in a three-page statement released on December 17, 2025.

The Nayiri argued that the mediator exceeded his role by “passing judgment and prescribing measures for enforcement,” a function inconsistent with neutral mediation.

He also noted that no formal Terms of Reference were provided, and parties were denied the opportunity to comment on the conclusions before the report was finalised.

“To say that I feel betrayed, disappointed, and deeply hurt would be a grave understatement,” the Nayiri wrote, alleging that the report contained “factual inaccuracies” and showed a “manifest imbalance” favouring one side while omitting Mamprugu’s position.

He specifically rejected claims that he agreed to the continued recognition of Aninchema as Bawku Naba, calling them “entirely false.”

He cautioned that acting on the report without full consultation could undermine peace.

“Such an approach, respectfully, will not advance the peace we all seek,” he said. The Nayiri emphasised that Mamprugu will not cede any ancestral heritage through an unjust process, noting that the mediation ended in a “clear DEADLOCK.”

Despite the dispute, the Nayiri reaffirmed his commitment to dialogue and stability in the Upper East Region.

“I remain fully committed to peace, dialogue, and stability in Bawku and the wider Mamprugu area. However, peace must be founded on law, history, fairness, and consent, not on imposed outcomes,” he stated, promising further engagement with Otumfuo and the government.