SUMMARY

The Northern Region in Ghana is home to a large number of different ethnic groups. Whereas Ghana in recent years often has been described as a politically stable country on the national level, disputes over chieftaincy among the major ethnic groups in the north have remained common. As fertile land is scarce in some areas, disputes over land rights have also been a source of several violent clashes.

The relationship between the two large ethnic groups of Kusasi and Mamprusi has for long been tense. In particular the issue of chieftaincy in the town of Bawku has been a source of conflict with both ethnic groups claiming their right to the position of the paramount chief (Bawku Naba) of the Bawku traditional area. The conflict is characterized by its protraction and complexity involving historical, political and ethnic factors. It can be traced back to the colonial era when the British imposed leadership structures on the people of the region and also how it has been exacerbated by post-colonial politicians who used the conflict for political gains as the two ethnic groups aligned themselves with different parties.

Violent clashes between the Kusasis and Mamprusis occurred on several occasions in the first decade of the 2000s. Fighting has often been sparked by quarrels between people from the opposing tribes which have spiralled out of control. The government has responded by sending police and troops to Bawku as well as by imposing curfews. In 2008, mediation efforts were undertaken by the President of Ghana; efforts which eventually seemed to stabilize the situation.

However, in late 2021 and onward, violent clashes erupted in the Bawku area again, which resulted in new peaks of violence in 2024 and 2025. The violence was characterized by ambushes along roads in the region and shootings in Bawku and neighbouring towns. Once again, the government responded with curfews and increased police and military presence in the area and along key roads.

Violence related to the Bawku chieftancy conflict has been concentrated to the Upper East region in northern Ghana, specifically in the town of Bawku. The town, with a population of about 200,000 is mainly inhabited by the two major ethnic groups of Kusasi and Mamprusi.

The non-state conflict between Kusasi and Mamprusi is first included in UCDP data in 2000. In December of that year, violent clashes flared up following a disagreement over the counting of the votes in the national election, resulting in over 25 battle-related deaths.