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News Ghana
Bawku Conflict: Mamprusi and Kusasi women in Ashanti unite for peace.
In a heartfelt show of unity and hope, Mamprusi and Kusasi women in the Ashanti Region have pledged to support ongoing peace efforts aimed at ending the long-standing Bawku conflict.
The engagement, facilitated by the National Peace Council (NPC), forms part of a renewed drive to bridge divides between the two ethnic groups whose decades-old feud has claimed lives and torn families apart.
Recognizing the vital influence of women in peacebuilding, the NPC convened leaders of Mamprusi and Kusasi women’s groups in Kumasi to deliberate on practical steps toward restoring harmony in Bawku.
This follows a similar dialogue with men from both sides last month, which culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to promote dialogue and curb the spread of inflammatory remarks on social and traditional media.
The MoU also urged both groups to educate their members on tolerance and nonviolence, particularly in Kumasi and its environs, where tensions occasionally flare.
Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Badu Amoah, Regional Executive Secretary of the NPC, said the decision to involve women in the peace roadmap was intentional, describing them as custodians of home and community values whose voices carry moral authority.
The meeting was marked by moments of deep emotion as participants shared stories of pain, separation, and longing for home.
Many recounted being unable to visit relatives in Bawku due to the volatile situation, lamenting how the conflict continues to fracture families and weaken social bonds.
“I have both Mamprusi and Kusasi blood. My father is Mamprusi, and my mother is Kusasi,” said Amina Bawa, leader of the Mamprusi women in the Ashanti Region.
“It hurts to see my people fighting each other. I am fully committed to any process that will bring lasting peace to Bawku,” she added.
Her counterpart, Azume Mamuda, Queen of the Kusasis in the Ashanti Region, echoed similar sentiments, calling on government and traditional authorities to intensify mediation efforts.
She expressed optimism that the ongoing Otumfuo-led intervention could achieve the same success seen in restoring peace to Dagbon.
Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante, a former Chairman of the NPC, commended the women for their courage and commitment, noting that their participation marked a significant step forward in peacebuilding.
“Women have been the silent sufferers in this conflict,” he said, adding that they lose their husbands, their sons, and their livelihoods, yet they hold the power to influence the hearts and minds of those on the frontlines.
The NPC is expected to continue engagements with both women and men in the coming weeks as part of a comprehensive roadmap to achieve sustainable peace and reconciliation in Bawku.
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