Naab Pariyoung Kosom Yelzoya Asaga II, the Overlord of the Nangodi Traditional Area, has called for a balanced, inclusive and forward-looking approach to resolving the protracted Bawku conflict, warning against solutions that seek to recreate the past at the expense of lasting peace.
Addressing delegates at the BONABOTO 25th Congress in the Nabdam District, the Overlord acknowledged the mediation efforts of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, describing them as a significant foundation for peace.
“We acknowledge and commend the efforts of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, whose mediation demonstrated statesmanship and a genuine desire for peace. His intervention has laid an important foundation which deserves national appreciation,” he said.
However, Naab Pariyoung II cautioned that peace could not be sustained if it ignored the deeply felt concerns of all sides involved in the conflict.
“Conflicts rooted in long and complex histories cannot always be resolved by attempting to restore the past as any side remembers or claims it,” he noted.
He explained that while one side in the conflict seeks recognition and self-determination, the other seeks security and continuity, stressing that peace must address both concerns.
“For peace to endure, no side must feel ignored, unsafe, or uncertain about its future,” the Chief said.
Using a metaphor, he urged stakeholders to focus on the future rather than reopening old wounds.
“Peace must not be built on promises of recreating yesterday, but on the wisdom of securing tomorrow,” he stated.
Naba Pariyoung II further proposed the establishment of a BONABOTO Peace-Building Committee, made up of respected elders and experienced voices, to complement existing mediation efforts.
“We who live with the people, who grew up with them, and who understand their fears and aspirations, cannot be spectators,” he said.
“Our role is not to replace any mediation already undertaken, but to continue it responsibly, so that our people may one day embrace one another without fear or resentment.”
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