President John Dramani Mahama has inaugurated a five-member committee to oversee the implementation of a GH¢1 billion revitalisation fund aimed at rebuilding infrastructure and restoring economic activity in the conflict-affected Bawku area, marking a significant step toward post-conflict reconstruction following years of instability .
The committee, chaired by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, includes Bawku Central Member of Parliament and Local Government Minister Mahama Ayariga, the Tamapani Chief Cletus Abugri, Upper East Regional Minister Donatus Akamugri Atanga, and Garu MP Thomas Anaba .
‘Bawku Will Get Its Fair Share of the National Cake’
Speaking at the inauguration at the Presidency on Wednesday, August 26, President Mahama expressed confidence in the committee’s ability to manage the fund with integrity and efficiency . He said the allocation for the fund had been secured, allowing the government to begin implementation following significant improvements in the security situation .
“Now we have the opportunity to go back and continue the development so that the people of the area will benefit from all the projects that we have been doing so that Bawku will get its fair share of the national cake,” President Mahama stated .
The President noted that the prolonged conflict had severely affected the government’s ability to provide essential services and implement development projects in the area . He disclosed that the government had been unable to post national service personnel, teachers, nurses, and doctors to Bawku due to the security situation . He also cited the Tamli Dam project as one of the major development initiatives that had stalled after a contractor’s employee was killed, forcing the company to withdraw .
Decades of Conflict and Path to Peace
The Bawku conflict, rooted in colonial-era administrative decisions and traditional authority disputes between the Kusasi and Mamprusi ethnic groups, has persisted for decades, claiming lives, displacing residents, and disrupting economic activity . The dispute centres on the occupancy of the Bawku skin—the symbol of chiefly authority in the traditional area .
The government’s decision to establish the revitalisation fund followed the receipt of the Otumfuo Mediation Committee report in December 2025, which laid out a roadmap for lasting peace and reconciliation . The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, had led mediation efforts, presenting a final report to President Mahama that traced the origins of the conflict to colonial-era decisions and subsequent tensions .
“With safety and security prevailing in Bawku and the surrounding areas, this is the time to begin the implementation of the Revitalisation Fund,” President Mahama said . He noted that reports indicated gunshots were no longer being heard at night and that impunity had abated .
Fund to Support Infrastructure and Economic Revival
The GH¢1 billion fund, announced as part of the government’s 2026 budget, is expected to support the development of infrastructure, businesses, and social services in Bawku and its surrounding communities . Priority areas include roads, bridges, health facilities, schools, dams, and irrigation systems to support all-year-round farming .
“We want Bawku to recapture its former glory as a major commercial centre in Ghana,” President Mahama said, adding that the government plans to complete an Agenda 111 hospital and construct another hospital in the area .
The fund will be spent over a three-year period from 2026 to 2028 and is expected to benefit as many districts within the Bawku area as possible . It will also support the construction of security installations and economic and commercial facilities .
Transition from Peacekeeping to Economic Restoration
President Mahama said the restoration of peace was critical to development, since sustained calm would enable residents to concentrate on rebuilding their livelihoods .
“Bawku is finally calm. The guns have stopped sounding, and people are beginning to go about their normal business,” the President stated .
He called on residents, traditional authorities, and other stakeholders to support the committee and work together to restore lasting peace and development in Bawku . The government has also appealed to traditional authorities, political leaders, youth groups, civil society organisations, religious bodies, and development partners to support the peace-building and reconciliation process .
The inauguration marks a decisive step in the government’s commitment to securing long-term peace through targeted economic empowerment and infrastructure development in the Upper East Region .
