Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sherigah II
The Overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area who doubles as the President of the North East Regional House of Chiefs, Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sherigah II, has called on government to lift the curfew imposed on Nalerigu and its environs in the North East Region.
The Minister for the Interior, on the advice of the North East Regional Security Council and by Executive Instrument, imposed curfew hours on Nalerigu township and its environs in the North East Region from 2:00 pm to 6:00 am, effective Sunday, July 27, 2025, until further notice.
A statement signed by the Minister of the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, called on the chiefs, elders, opinion leaders, youth and people of Nalerigu to exercise restraint in the face of the challenges confronting them, as well as to use non-violent means to channel their energies into ensuring peace.
The statement further banned all persons in the Nalerigu township and its environs from carrying arms, ammunition or any offensive weapons, adding that any persons found with any arms or ammunition will be arrested and prosecuted.
According to the Office of the Nayiri, the failure of government to consult them amounts to a disrespect to the palace and dignity of Mamprugu.
“Nalerigu, the seat of the Mamprugu Kingdom, remains calm and peaceful. There is no ongoing conflict to warrant such a measure, and the failure of Government to consult the Office of the Nayiri before taking such a significant step amounts to a gross affront to the authority and dignity of Mamprugu,” the Office of the Nayiri disclosed.
The Office of the Nayiri called on government to refrain from such mischaracterisations and focus its attention where action is most urgently needed on restoring lasting peace in Bawku through firm, fair, and impartial enforcement of law and order.
“The justification offered for the curfew that it is to facilitate the evacuation of students from
Nalerigu Senior High School is unfortunate and unconvincing. Security cannot be maintained through reactive and poorly informed decisions made from a distance. It is irresponsible to take such actions without the input of local actors and authorities, on the ground,” it added.
The Office of the Nayiri, condemned in the strongest terms, the heinous and cold blooded murder of two innocent students of Nalerigu Senior High School, noting that their deaths are not only a loss to their immediate families, but also to Mamprugu and Ghana as a whole.
“The Nayiri and the Mamprugu Traditional Council extend heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and all who mourn. We share in their grief and pain,” it stressed.
The Office of the Nayiri however, stated that Mamprugu must not be made to suffer for the failure of the state to act decisively in Bawku.
“Mamprugu must not be made to suffer for the failure of the state to act decisively in Bawku. For years, the Palace has called on Government to take bold and sustained action to end the violence and impunity in that area. Peace will not be achieved by neglecting the root causes of the conflict or by redirecting its consequences to innocent communities,” it pointed out.
The Office of the Nayiri also demanded for an unqualified apology from government for the manner in which the curfew was imposed without consultation, and a commitment to proper engagement with traditional authorities and local stakeholders to strengthen peace, security, and development in Mamprugu.
“The Nayiri Palace remains ever open to dialogue, collaboration, and sincere efforts that foster harmony and justice. Mamprugu stands for peace, but peace must never be mistaken for passivity,” it added.
FROM Eric Kombat, Nalerigu