The Chiefs of Mamprugu Traditional Area have called on former President John Dramani Mahama, the 2024 flagbearer of the NDC, to retract and issue an unqualified apology to the people of the North East Region for his chaotic remarks at Bawku Naaba’s palace in Bawku.

Former President John Mahama, in a speech over the weekend at a durbar of chiefs and people of Bawku, stated that if elected as President in the December 7th elections, he would support and consider carving out the Bawku enclave from the Upper East Region.

According to the former president, the Bawku area is economically viable and more populated than the North East Region, despite being comparable in land size.

The Chiefs of Mamprugu find Mr. John Mahama's statement very distasteful and a threat to peace and tranquility in an already volatile Bawku.

In a press release issued and signed by the President of Mamprugu Youth Chiefs, Chief Iddrisu Sulemana, the Chiefs described the NDC flagbearer's statement as repugnant, objectionable, and despicable.

They added that the divisive tendencies in these comments from the former president have the potential to plunge these areas into chaos, leading to a never-ending conflict that could result in loss of lives and property.

The Mamprugu Chiefs noted that Mamprusis, Kusasis, and other minority ethnic groups have been living in and around Bawku in harmony.

They emphasized that the former president's proposal to create a Kusasi Region out of Mamprugu poses a significant threat to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.

The Chiefs pointed out that traditional allegiance defies administrative boundaries and creating a region for Kusasis out of Mamprugu does not diminish the authority of the overlord of the Mamprugu Kingdom, the Nayiri, over his people.

In conclusion, the Chiefs expressed concern that the former president's comments may endanger Mamprusis in the NDC and create challenges in the future.

They emphasized the need for respectful dialogue and unity among the diverse ethnic groups in the region.

Read the full statement below:

A Press Release

YOUR PROMISE TO CREATE A NEW REGION FOR KUSASIS OUT OF MAMPRUSI STATE IS RECKLESS AND A RECIPE FOR CONFLICTS IN THESE AREAS

Our attention has been drawn to a rather unfortunate, belligerent and inciteful statement made by the former president and flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama, when he paid a courtesy call on Aburago Palace in Bawku.

The former president in his comments said that he would consider the creation of a new region for the Kusasis out of the Mamprugu State.

He further posited that one of the reasons behind his intent for the creation of the region for the Kusasi people is based on his assumption that Kusasis outnumber Mamprusis in terms of population and the land size is the same as North East.

We find these statements from the flagbearer of the NDC as repugnant, objectionable, despicable and ignoble coming from the former president who is seeking a comeback.

The divisive tendencies in these comments from the former president have the potential to plunge these areas into chaos, a never-ending conflict that could waste lives and property.

It is important to set the records straight. North East has a bigger population than the entire Upper East Region. In terms of land size, North East is bigger. We ask, where did the former president get his figures from?

What is so appalling and galling to we the people of North East and Mamprugu is the point where the former president said he will create a Kusasi Region out of Mamprugu.

We find that statement to be the greatest threat to the peace, stability and prosperity of our people in these parts of Ghana.

Is the former president saying that Bawku constitutes only people of Kusasi origin? Does it mean that if such a region is created, he will see to the thousands of Mamprusis in the area being driven out of Bawku and its environs?

For the records, Mamprusis and Kusasis and other minority ethnic groups have been living in and around Bawku. In fact, these people have built their homes around these places. Many Mamprusis have properties in Bawku. There may have been conflicts now and then, but majority of the two ethnic groups have been living together in harmony.

This proposal by the former president sets a very dangerous precedent for the peaceful co-existence enjoyed over the years.

The former president seems to have forgotten that much as there are many Kusasis supporting the NDC, a great number of Mamprusis also support and vote for the NDC.

We have also noticed, with dismay, the fact that the former president seems to have forgotten that traditional allegiance defy administrative boundaries. Creating a region out of Mamprugu for Kusasis does not mean the overlord of Mamprusis will have no jurisdictional power over his people. Traditional boundaries are not regional boundaries in Ghana, he must know. For the records, the Nayiri- king of Mamprugu has about 8 Paramount Chiefs in the Upper East Region long before the Region was created but this since hasn’t changed their allegiance to the Nayiri and hence the Mamprugu kingdom.

By these comments from the former president, Mamprusis in the NDC have become endangered species, surpluses to requirement as far as his comeback bid is concerned.

The former president and his team may not need our votes, that’s fine, but we cannot gloss over the inherent danger his comments will create in the months and years to come.

We, therefore, demand a retraction of those warmongering statements made and an unqualified apology from the former president and his party NDC.

A leader or the one who seeks to lead must be seen to be someone who promotes peace and stability and not the one who, for political reasons, divides the people and promotes bloodshed. We are very much disappointed in the former president. We demand an apology now!

Chief Iddrisu Sulemana

President of the Mamprugu youth chiefs association.

Signed