15/07/2025
PRESS CONFERENCE BY NDC CONSTITUENCY EXECUTIVES WITHIN THE KUSAUG TRADITIONAL AREA.
DATED: 15TH JULY, 2025
Ladies and gentlemen of the press,
We begin by expressing our profound gratitude to Almighty God for preserving our lives in these perilous times. We also thank you the men and women of the media for promptly responding to our urgent call in these critical moments of betrayal, bloodshed, and impunity.
We, the undersigned National Democratic Congress (NDC) Constituency Executives from the six constituencies within the Kusaug Traditional Area: Binduri, Bawku Central, Pusiga, Garu, Tempane, and Zebilla; stand before you today, deeply alarmed and outraged by the deteriorating security situation in Bawku and the total failure of this government to protect the lives, dignity, and rights of the very people who gave them power.
On July 13, 2025, the people of Kusaug woke up to what can only be described as a state- sponsored assault, not only on civilians but on the very soul and authority of our traditional leadership. In an appalling and indefensible act, the military desecrated the image of our revered overlord, His Royal Majesty Zugraan Bawku Naaba, by setting ablaze his statue—an act so vile and provocative it amounts to declaring war on the people of Kusaug.
The justification for this barbarity? A reported attack by unknown persons on Mamprusi buses under military es**rt. While we do not condone violence in any form, no civilized or lawful state responds by massacring innocent women and children, invading schools, brutalizing students, and murdering two of them in cold blood. This is not law enforcement. This is state terrorism, and it will not be accepted under any circumstances.
Let it be known: The Kusaug people have reached their limit.
During the 7th December 2024 elections, while the rest of Ghana voted for hope and progress, the Kusaug people voted not just for development but for survival—placing their trust in the NDC and His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, believing his administration would deliver justice and peace through the rule of law. That trust is now dangerously eroded.
The government, instead of taking bold and lawful action to resolve the chieftaincy conflict, has outsourced responsibility to the Ashantehene, while the perpetrators of violence walk free.
The result? A worsening crisis, deepening mistrust, and a growing perception that the government has chosen political expediency over justice.
As the frontline leaders and campaigners of the NDC in Kusaug, our lives are under serious threat; not just from the crossfire of violence, but from the growing anger of our own people, who now see us as enablers of a system that has betrayed them completely. We refuse to continue risking our lives and integrity in the name of a government that appears to have no respect for our people, our leaders, or the promises we made on its behalf.
OUR CORE CONCERNS:
1. The people of Kusaug supported the NDC based on firm assurances that the Bawku conflict is a criminal matter, to be resolved through the strict application of the law.
2. The continued existence of Seidu Abagre, the so-called "Imposter", is an insult to the Kusaug people. His unlawful enskinment triggered chaos and deaths. Yet, to this day, he walks free—unbothered and unpunished.
3. In several polling stations, the NPP presidential candidate received zero votes: a clear demonstration of Kusaug’s absolute rejection of the NPP and full endorsement of the NDC.
4. There is no chieftaincy dispute at the Regional House of Chiefs. Zugraan Bawku Naaba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II is the undisputed gazetted chief, who is recognised by the National House of Chiefs.
5. The 2003 Supreme Court ruling resolved all legal claims regarding the Bawku chieftaincy. The matter is closed, legally and traditionally.
6. The government's failure to arrest the self-imposed “chief” exposes hypocrisy and cowardice, and has deepened the bloodshed.
7. The military and police leadership currently in Bawku owe their allegiance to the NPP regime that strategically deployed them to advance Mamprusi interests and suppress Kusasis’ lives and rights.
8. The former NPP government conspired and implemented the illegal enskinment of the rival chief; smuggled into Bawku under the cover of darkness by national security operatives.
9. Today, this same dangerous trend of appeasement, silence, and selective justice is being perpetuated by a government we fought to install.
10. The NDC is providing support in Kusaug. If this continues, the party’s very survival in the area is at serious risk.
OUR DEMANDS:
To salvage what is left of the trust and relationship between the NDC and the Kusaug people, we demand the following actions immediately and unconditionally:
1. Immediate restoration of the Bawku Naaba’s statue and a public apology to His Royal Majesty and the entire Kusaug people.
2. An independent investigation into the murder of innocent civilians, including women and children, by the military.
3. Full compensation to victims whose shops, vehicles, and properties, including “John Mahama Candos”, were destroyed by the military.
4. The immediate arrest and prosecution of Seidu Abagre, whose illegal enskinment has brought nothing but bloodshed and anarchy.
5. The complete withdrawal and replacement of the current military and police leadership in Bawku, who have lost all credibility and moral standing in the eyes of the people.
6. A strong caution to the NPP minority in parliament and its propagandists to cease their hypocritical commentary. Their hands are stained with the blood of our people. The former President and Vice President, Akufo Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, directly engineered the chaos in Bawku. History will remember them.
FINAL NOTICE:
The people of Kusaug demand justice, not favors. The NDC must choose: stand with the people or stand aside.
The Kusaug Traditional Council banned all NPP activities and gave the NDC a clean path to victory. The people now watch and wait. Let the government be warned: inaction is betrayal, and betrayal has consequences.
Should these demands be ignored, we, the entire NDC constituency executives in the Kusaug Traditional Area will resign from our positions en bloc to protect our lives, families, and integrity.
We refuse to be complicit in this grave injustice. Let this press conference serve as our final caution to the government.
May God watch over Kusaug and deliver us from these dark times.
Thank you.
SIGNED
CONSTITUENCY CHAIRMEN CONSTITUENCY CHAIRMAN:
1. HON NDEEGO MOHAMMED AWINDAGO, BAWKU CENTRAL CONST 0246270134
2. HON OSMAN ALHAJI RAHIM, PUSIGA CONST 0244835332
3. HON ABAGRI BATHOLOMEW ATIIGA, BINDURI CONST 0244486929
4. HON THOMAS LAARI, GARU CONST 0243144603
5. HON ATAN PRINCE IDDRISU, TEMPANI CONST 0244472362
6. HON KUDUGU ATIAH, ZEBILLA CONST 0244303218
CC
NDC NATIONAL EXECUTIVES
UPPER EAST REGIONAL EXECUTIVES
UPPER EAST CAUCUS IN PARLIAMENT
MAJORITY LEADER AND LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS ALL MEDIA HOUSES.
