A tragic attack on travelers in Walewale has claimed the lives of two passengers and left a bus completely destroyed by fire.

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The bus, which was traveling from Kumasi to Garu, was attacked by armed men after stopping in front of the ADB Bank in Walewale.

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The attack is suspected to be linked to the ongoing chieftaincy conflict in Bawku.

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Just a day earlier, on February 11, 2025, a similar attack near Wulugu on the Bolgatanga-Tamale highway left three passengers dead, with their bus set on fire.

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In another incident on February 12, a gunfight in Bawku claimed three more lives, adding to the growing violence in the area.

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These recent deaths have brought the total number of casualties in the conflict to 54 since its resurgence in October 2024.

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The Bawku chieftaincy dispute remains one of Ghana’s most protracted and contentious conflicts, rooted in a complex mix of historical, ethnic, and political factors.

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At the heart of the issue is the struggle for chieftaincy legitimacy between the Mamprusi and Kusasi ethnic groups in the Bawku Traditional Area.

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While the Mamprusi assert historical rights to the Bawku skin, the Kusasi claim it based on demographic majority and political support gained in recent decades (Longi, 2014).

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The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has urged rival factions to prioritize peace for the area’s development.

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He warned that prolonged violence would lead to poverty, stagnation in infrastructure, and worsening living conditions.

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He called on all parties to reflect on their actions and seek peaceful solutions for the sake of future generations.

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Meanwhile, the country’s Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has assured that the government remains committed to resolving the Bawku conflict through traditional mechanisms as part of a broader effort to restore lasting peace.

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