Ghana: Ethnic Tensions in Bawku Undermine National Security

Key Takeaways:

• Repeated military deployments, curfews and mediation efforts have largely failed to achieve lasting stability, prompting the government to adopt a more aggressive "peace enforcement" strategy.

• Ghana’s northern porous borders and Bawku's proximity to Togo and Burkina Faso make it a critical national security concern, mainly due to the spread of jihadist activities in the Sahel and extremists’ expansionist ambitions in the coastal region.

• The prolonged conflict has led to the indefinite closure of key businesses, crippling economic activity and local governance, risking long-term economic marginalisation.

Historical Roots and Ethnic Disputes

For decades, Bawku, in the Upper East region of Ghana’s north, has been the scene of one of the country’s long-standing conflicts. The dispute dates back to pre-colonial times. Under British colonial rule, the Kusasis were placed under the authority of the Mamprusi chiefs in Bawku; however, following independence, changes to the traditional governance structure triggered disputes and competing claims to local authority.  

At the heart of the conflict is the protracted Kusasi-Mamprusi dispute, as both ethnic groups claim ownership over Bawku. The Mamprusis claim traditional authority over Bawku, while the Kusasi claim the land based on demographic majority and political support over the years. Periodic eruptions of violence in the 1980s, 2000s, 2021, 2022 and 2024 have led to several deaths and widespread displacement. In August 2023, the then Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Bawku, Amadu Hamza, stated that over 200 people had been killed between November 2021 and August 2023. The number is expected to be much higher as of August 2025. Political interference has also exacerbated the conflict. Both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ghana's major political parties, have been accused of fueling tensions for political gain. The conflict has had a devastating impact on residents' safety, forcing many to flee their homes in search of safety.

Renewed violence fuelled by protracted conflict

A fresh wave of violence has been recorded over the past few days, further worsening the security situation in Bawku. On 26 July 2025, gunmen invaded the Bawku Senior High School, killing a student. The attackers jumped the school’s perimeter wall, entered the dormitory, and forcibly dragged the student outside before shooting him in what appears to be a targeted attack. The victim was reportedly believed to have been mistaken for an affiliate of one of the factions involved in the chieftaincy dispute. In Nalerigu, two students were also killed following a violent attack by unidentified gunmen at the town’s senior high school. The residence of the Member of Parliament for Bawku and Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, was also vandalised and set ablaze later that same night. Days before these attacks, two shootings in Asawase and Dominase in the Ashanti region were also linked to the Bawku conflict, hundreds of kilometres away.

To curb escalating violence and insecurity in Bawku, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) deployed 400 additional troops to the area under the ongoing security initiative, Operation Maidabuuri II. Operation Maidabuuri II, already operational in the region, according to authorities, aims to stabilise the situation and foster collaboration with local communities. Despite this, retaliatory actions by factions angered by the attacks cannot be ruled out in the near term. This raises the risk of civilians being caught in crossfire.

Interventions and the Shift to "Peace Enforcement"

Although various interventions have been made over the years, including military deployments to enforce peace, sporadic violence has continued to undermine stability. Successive governments have deployed military and police personnel and imposed curfews to curb the conflict. A curfew has been in place for years and has been reviewed periodically based on the situation at the time. The curfews are always coupled with a total ban on carrying arms, ammunition, and other offensive weapons. When violence flares up, the curfew hours are usually made more restrictive. The latest spate of violence prompted a review of curfew hours to 1400-0600hrs. Mediations involving religious and civil society groups have also largely failed to address the underlying causes.

Despite multiple military deployments, the conflict has continued unabated. Both ethnic groups accuse the security forces of taking sides, eroding public trust and complicating efforts to achieve lasting peace. The Presidency, through spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said the military is shifting from a peacekeeping to a more assertive “peace enforcement” approach. The government promised that troops would take “all necessary measures” to protect lives and property in Bawku.

The Cross-Border Threat to National Security

Bawku's location in Ghana's northeastern corner, with its porous borders with Togo and Burkina Faso, makes the conflict a critical point of national security interest. Togo, for instance, has seen a rise in jihadist activity over the years, as groups linked to Islamic State and al Qaeda have spread from the Sahel. The Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Robert Dussey, stated that 15 attacks in the northern part of the country had been perpetrated so far in 2025 by Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), an insurgent group in the Sahel. According to Dussey, 54 civilians have been killed in these attacks. Similarly, terrorist attacks in towns such as Bagré, Zoaga and Zabre in eastern Burkina Faso forced hundreds of Burkinabes to flee to some communities in Ghana through porous and unapproved routes.

Bawku, once considered a major commercial hub, attracted an array of traders and immigrants from across the West African region, including Niger and Benin. The conflict creates an opportunity for violent extremist groups from the Sahel region to infiltrate Ghana. Ghana has not recorded any terrorist attack and has been touted as a stable democracy; however, its porous borders facilitate the trafficking of small arms and allow for the mobilisation of ethnic groups from neighbouring countries to exploit the conflict. In 2023, the government announced plans to deploy an additional 5,000 soldiers to Bawku after a series of attacks at the Burkinabe border.

The Urgent Need for a Comprehensive and Sustainable Peace Strategy

Analysts have long warned about repeated military deployments to the area as the conflict worsens. The persistent violence highlights the need for a lasting solution which involves a multi-faceted approach. The approach must address the root causes of the dispute, while also tackling the political and cross-border factors that exacerbate the conflict. The recent spread of conflict-related incidents to other regions, such as the Ashanti region, highlights the urgent need for a decisive and comprehensive strategy to achieve lasting peace and prevent the conflict from further threatening national stability. There is hope that the involvement of Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the King of the Ashanti Kingdom, will help to broker peace in the area. The Asantehene was appointed by former President Akufo-Addo in 2024 to lead the mediation process. The mediation sessions are expected to involve key leaders from the conflicting factions and other relevant stakeholders.