Mahama Ayariga’s House Attacked During Violence in Bawku, IGP Leads Delegation to Area
- The residence of Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga in the district was attacked by some residents
- The attack on the MP's home has been linked to unrest in the district over the past couple of days
- The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has since led a delegation to the area
Tensions in Bawku saw some residents vandalise and set fire to the residence of Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga.
The incident occurred amid unrest over the last two days linked to the town’s long-standing chieftaincy dispute.
Source: Facebook
The recent violence saw police and some residents clash during which one person was killed.
Five others, including a police officer and an immigration officer, sustained gunshot wounds and are currently receiving medical treatment.
Calm was initially restored in Bawku on April 9, 2025, through a joint operation by the police and the army.
However, tensions flared again the next day when a group attacked Ayariga's home at Wiidi, a suburb of Bawku, reportedly in response to the earlier death.
Citi News reported that the MP’s residence was initially attacked by youth pelting stones and then escalated into arson.
Since the recent violence, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has led a delegation to the area to assess the security situation on the ground.
According to a statement released by the Ghana Police Service on April 10, the IGP will also meet with persons affected by the violence.
“While at Bawku, the IGP and his team will also commiserate with the deceased family, visit the injured persons on admission and reach out to officers who lost their properties as a result of the violence.”
Before the attack on the MP's residence, a police vehicle and the private residence of the Bawku Divisional Police Commander, Adamu Seidu, were also attacked.
The attack was reported to be in retaliation to the killing of a civilian in the area on Wednesday morning.
Mahama Ayariga condemns recent Bawku violence
After the fatal clash on April 9, Ayariga condemned the lethal action by the police.
In a statement, the MP also refuted claims that he had instructed police officers to allow residents to access the local market or purchase goods.
“I totally condemn the actions of the police in shooting some youth in Bawku today. Also, I have never had any discussion with any police and directed them to allow anyone to attend any market or purchase anything from anyone.
Ayariga also called on security forces to cooperate with traditional authorities in the area to restore calm and maintain order.
About the Bawku tensions
The conflict in Bawku dates back to the 1930s, with the Kusasis and Mamprusi being the main feuding actors.
The tensions revolve around the occupancy of the Bawku skin, which represents chiefly authority in the Bawku traditional area.
As a result of a colonial policy arrangement, the Bawku Chief holds paramountcy over Kusasi, Mamprusi, and other local chiefs.
The Kusasis are known to be the indigenes of the Bawku traditional area, while the Mamprusis have claimed a historical presence in Bawku since the 17th century and have asserted that they started the chieftaincy in the region.
Source: Getty Images
In 1957, tensions began to escalate between the Mamprusis and Kusasis over the Bawku chieftaincy, which led to the installation of two separate chiefs for the same position.
The government recognises Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, who was enskinned on 24th April 1984, as the current chief of the township.
These tensions have culminated in a protracted conflict that led to several deaths over the years.
President John Mahama took a trip to Bawku seven days after his inauguration and reiterated his resolve to restore peace in the troubled township. He described peace in Bawku as one of his priorities.
Teen boy killed in Bawku
YEN.com.gh reported that a teen boy was killed in the Singnatinga-Possum enclave of the Bawku township in the Upper East Region on January 26.
The motive for the killing remains unclear, but it was believed to be linked to unrest in the township
The victim was transported to Kpalugu in Bawku where he was laid to rest in accordance with Islamic traditions.
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Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Delali Adogla-Bessa (Head of Current Affairs and Politics Desk) Delali Adogla-Bessa is a Current Affairs Editor with YEN.com.gh. Delali previously worked as a freelance journalist in Ghana and has over seven years of experience in media, primarily with Citi FM, Equal Times, Ubuntu Times. Delali also volunteers with the Ghana Institute of Language Literacy and Bible Translation, where he documents efforts to preserve local languages. He graduated from the University of Ghana in 2014 with a BA in Information Studies. Email: delali.adogla-bessa@yen.com.gh.
Samuel Gitonga (Copy editor) Samuel Gitonga is a Copy Editor at YEN.com.gh. He holds a Bachelor of Broadcast Journalism Degree from the Multimedia University of Kenya. He has over 7 years’ experience in the digital journalism industry. He started out his career at the Kenya News Agency and proceeded to work for several reputable media outlets in Nairobi.
