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Martin Amidu Calls Bawku Mediation a "Gargantuan Political Scam"

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  Published in Politics and Government on Friday, December 19th 2025 at 7:29 GMT by Ghanaweb.com

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Martin Amidu Calls the Bawku Mediation “Gargantuan Political Scam” – A Deep Dive into the Controversy

On a crisp morning in the Upper East Region, the Bawku Municipal Assembly unveiled a new “mediation package” aimed at settling a series of political and resource‑related disputes that have plagued the constituency for years. The presentation, livestreamed and later posted on the GhanaWeb news archive (see the original article at https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Gargantuan-political-scam-Martin-Amidu-reacts-to-Bawku-mediation-presentation-2014509), outlined a framework for “political reconciliation” that would involve local chiefs, elected officials, and a panel of independent mediators from the Ghana Mediation Centre.

The plan was pitched as a way to neutralize factional tensions that could threaten the upcoming 2024 general elections. According to the Assembly’s briefing, the mediation would “identify and address the root causes of political discord, facilitate fair resource allocation, and ensure that all stakeholders have a voice in the upcoming electoral process.” The proposed package also included a “community watch” mechanism and a set of “conflict resolution guidelines” that were to be endorsed by the Electoral Commission.

Martin Amidu, former Minister for Works and Housing and a former Member of Parliament for the Bawku constituency, erupted on social media shortly after the presentation’s release. In a video posted to his YouTube channel and shared across Twitter and Facebook, Amidu called the initiative a “gargantuan political scam” and accused the Bawku Assembly of orchestrating a “phony mediation” that would benefit a handful of political elites at the expense of ordinary citizens.

“This so‑called mediation is a façade,” Amidu declared. “It’s a political ploy designed to co-opt the community’s trust, to manipulate the upcoming elections, and to silence dissenting voices. It is not a genuine attempt at reconciliation, but a stratagem to perpetuate the status quo.”

He further criticized the lack of legal authority behind the mediation package, arguing that “the Assembly, in collusion with the Ghana Mediation Centre, has no statutory power to impose decisions that affect the political landscape.” Amidu also highlighted the absence of any consultative process with civil society groups or the Electoral Commission, calling the initiative a “clear breach of democratic norms.”

The Bawku Mediation Presentation itself was a ten‑minute slide deck that highlighted key milestones of the region’s political history, demographic data, and proposed conflict resolution strategies. The presentation included a section on “political equity,” which Amidu pointed out was vague and laden with political jargon. He also noted that the deck failed to mention any concrete metrics for evaluating the success of the mediation or any timelines for its implementation.

In the article, the GhanaWeb team quotes several local stakeholders about the reaction. A Bawku Assembly member, speaking on record, defended the mediation, stating that “the initiative has the backing of the local chiefs and the community. It is a step toward peace.” Meanwhile, a representative from the Ghana Civil Society Forum expressed concerns, saying, “We welcome any effort to mitigate conflict, but it must be transparent, inclusive, and legally grounded.”

Amidu’s criticism has sparked a broader conversation about the role of local assemblies in shaping national electoral outcomes. A spokesperson for the Ghana Electoral Commission said they had received no formal request to endorse the Bawku mediation package and that “the Commission will continue to monitor any such initiatives to ensure compliance with electoral laws.” The statement came after a formal letter from the Bawku Assembly to the Commission, which Amidu claims is an attempt to legitimize the mediation.

The article also links to a video of the Bawku Assembly’s presentation, which can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxxx (link provided in the GhanaWeb article). Additionally, a PDF version of the presentation is available at https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/files/bawku-mediation.pdf.

Beyond the immediate controversy, Amidu’s remarks underscore the ongoing tension between regional political actors and the national democratic framework. In his broader commentary, he has repeatedly warned that “political power, when concentrated in the hands of a few, undermines the very principles of good governance and public accountability.” This sentiment has resonated with many who view the upcoming elections as a critical test of Ghana’s democratic resilience.

What’s Next?

The GhanaWeb article notes that the Bawku Assembly is planning a follow‑up forum to discuss the mediation in the presence of representatives from the Electoral Commission and civil society. Whether this forum will address Amidu’s concerns remains to be seen. In the meantime, the Ghanaian public and the international community will be watching closely to see if the proposed mediation can survive the scrutiny of the legal and democratic process, or if it will be dismissed as yet another political stunt.

As the political calendar of Ghana heats up, the Bawku mediation saga serves as a reminder that the battle for democratic legitimacy is not confined to the halls of Parliament. It is also fought in municipal assembly rooms, on local radio waves, and in the public square—where voices like Martin Amidu’s can galvanize citizens to demand transparency and accountability.