The Western Togoland Governing Council and Defense Council have introduced a specialized task force to execute three pivotal assignments, marking a significant development in the region.
In an official statement, the Council clarified that the task force, inaugurated on January 18, 2024, will undertake a campaign opposing voting in areas encompassed by Western Togoland, scrutinize and compile information on individuals assisting or cooperating with the Ghanaian government in the illegal apprehension and confinement of Western Togoland activists, and observe and document endorsements of the Ghanaian government’s actions.
The leadership of the council has urged the public to stay away from any gatherings related to voting in Western Togoland.
The move comes as the UN Human Rights Council’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has ruled against Ghana and demanded the release of Western Togoland activists, but the Ghanaian government has failed to comply.
The task force’s actions are a response to what the council consider to be violations of human rights and a futureless Union with Ghana.
Traditional rulers were also urged to be diligent in their dealings with the Western Togoland cause and not follow politicians who violate human rights.
The Western Togoland Governing Council and the Defense Council have announced the formation of a special task force to carry out three key assignments.
The task force, launched on January 18, 2024, will implement a campaign against voting in all territories within the borders of Western Togoland, investigate and document individuals aiding or collaborating with the Ghanaian government in the unlawful arrest and detention of Western Togoland activists, and monitor and record comments in support of the Ghanaian government’s actions.
The public is urged to stay away from any gatherings related to voting in Western Togoland.
This development coincides with the UN Human Rights Council’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruling against Ghana and demanding the release of Western Togoland activists, which the Ghanaian government has yet to comply with.
The task force’s actions are a response to what the council considers violations of human rights and a perceived undesirable union with Ghana.
The council is urging traditional rulers to be diligent in their dealings with the Western Togoland cause and not to align with politicians who violate human rights.
Five years in jail with hard labor has been given to the five individuals found guilty in connection with the operations of theWestern Togoland foundationgroup.
The Western Togoland movement is a group of people who want separatists to declare independence from the Republic of Ghana on September 25, 2020.
The accused persons, Ebenezer Gblorkpor, Afetorgbor Kpogo, Joseph Nyamewu, Wisdom Kuvor, and Israel Bessah Kpexor, have been accused on four counts under SMCD 20, i.e., attending meetings of a prohibited organisation contrary to Section 2(1)(b) and making contributions to the funds of a prohibited organisation contrary to Section 2(1)(g).
They were also charged with participating in the campaign of a prohibited organisation, contrary to Section 2(1)(d), and being a member of a prohibited organisation, contrary to Section 2(1)(i).
Ebenezer and his associates were apprehended in 2020 as part of a group of Western Togoland Foundation members who attacked a police station at Aveyime, released prisoners, stole ammunition, blocked roads leading to the Volta Region, and shot a police officer.
The prosecution challenged the defence attorney’s request that the court reconsider its sentence on the grounds that the defendants are first-time offenders who are young and have been held for more than a year while awaiting trial.
However, the prosecution requested that the court impose harsher sentences to act as a deterrent to others.
But the judge declined, noting that the convicts’ actions were premeditated and aggravated, hence the maximum sentence of five years should apply.
The Western Togoland movement, which unsuccessfully tried to declare independence in November 2019 under the leadership of Papavi Hogbedetor, sought to have the Volta Region and some other parts of the country, which were referred to as Western Togoland.
Five Western Togoland secessionists have been given a total sentence of 25 years in prison by the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra, which is presided over by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh.
After sandbagging the Aveyime route from Accra and attacking the Aveyime and Mepe Police stations in the Volta Region, the five were detained by the police in September 2020.
The Banned Organizations Act of 1976 was violated by the five defendants, who were found guilty on March 17 by the High Court (Supreme Military Council Decree/SMCD20).
The first two of the four charges under SMCD20 proffered against the accused were:
Attending meetings of a prohibited organization contrary to Section 2(1)(b) of SMCD20, and Making contributions to the funds of a prohibited organisation contrary to Section 2(1)(g) of SMCD 20.
The third and fourth charges were participating in the campaign of a prohibited organization, contrary to Section 2(1)(d) of SMCD20, and being a member of a prohibited organization, contrary to Section 2(1)(i) of SMCD20.
Mitigation by defence lawyer
In his mitigation argument for the accused persons, defence lawyer Andrew K. Vortia called on the court to consider the fact that pending the completion of the trial, the accused persons were in custody for two years and six months.
Additionally, he noted that the accused persons are all below the age of 35 years and they according to the prosecution are not known quantities to the security apparatus of the state.
In view of this, he called on Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh’s court to take into consideration the issues raised before handing the accused persons their custodial sentences.
State Attorneys’ counter argument
State Attorneys, in opposition, argued that the accused persons premeditated the crimes they committed. They also shot a police officer and seized a police vehicle.
The accused persons according to State Attorneys showed no remorse throughout the trial which lasted over one year and so claims by the defence lawyer that his clients have shown remorse can simply not be accurate.
Against this background, the State Attorneys called on the court to hand the accused persons a custodial sentence that will act as a deterrent to other persons who may be contemplating similar actions in the future.
By Court
The Court after hearing the arguments of the parties sentenced, the accused persons to a total of 25 years.
The first accused, Ebenezer Gblorkpor who was found guilty and convicted on counts one, two, and four was sentenced to five years in prison in hard labour (IHL).
The second accused, Afetorgbor Kpogo, who was found guilty and convicted on the first count only was sent to five years in prison in hard labour.
The third accused (Joseph Nyamewu), fourth accused (Wisdom Kuvor), and fifth accused (Israel Bessah Kpexor) who were all found guilty and convicted on counts three and four were also handed five years in prison in hard labour.
Representation in Court
The Republic was represented in court by Adoma Osei, a senior state attorney in the Office of the Attorney General, Derrick Ackah-Nyamike, Assistant State Attorney, and Watkins Adamah, a State Attorney.
Brief facts
The Homeland Study Group (HSG) is an organization with the primary aim of seceding the Volta and Oti Regions, from the territories of Ghana.
The Western Togoland Restoration Front (WTRF), on the other hand, is an offshoot of HSG, established by Michael Koku Kwabla, also known as Togbe Yesu.
The WTRF’s main aim was to use force to make it possible for the Volta and Oti Regions to secede from Ghana and form a new state, to be called “Western Togoland”. The organisation was established by Kwabla.
Together with his right-hand man, Charles Elo, he recruited individuals who attended WTRF meetings, became members, participated in the group’s campaign and made contributions to the WTRF cause.
The WTRF hatched a plan to campaign and protest for the secession of the Volta and Oti Regions. They planned to campaign and protest by blocking roads leading from Accra to the Volta Region.
Action on Aveyime At dawn on 25 September 2020, the WTRF cadres set their plans in motion. They divided themselves into groups. One group blocked the Aveyime road from Accra with trips of sand and burning tyres.
The other WTRF groups proceeded to attack the police stations in Aveyime and Mepe, property of the Ghana Police Service. They were wielding guns and other weapons and used these to overpower the police officers on duty.
The WTRF rebels freed inmates from the cells, broke into the armoury at the stations and stole arms and ammunition, including: 13 AK-47 assault rifles, two pistols, five pump-action guns, one shotgun, two MAC-3 guns, one MAC-4 gun, three SMG rifles, 11 rubber bullets, 25 rounds of 37mm tear gas cartridges, and roughly 300 rounds of AK-47 ammunition.
They also stole a police patrol vehicle with registration number GP 195, proceeded to attack the barracks and made away with money and other items belonging to the police officer residents and their families.
Officers shot
A police team was sent from Sogakokpe to restore calm in Aveyime and Mepe.
When the team reached Aveyime, members were attacked by WTRF rebels. Three police officers were injured and their leader, Chief Superintendent Dennis Fiakpui, was shot.
A signboard for the Police Service was defaced by WTRF members who erased “Ghana” from the name “Ghana Police Service” printed on the signboard.
They hanged and displayed what they claimed to be flag of their new country, Western Togoland. Amid the road blockage action and the attacks on Aveyime and Mepe Police Stations, the WTRF members also jubilated and chanted, “Freedom, freedom.”
Investigations eventually led to the arrest of the accused persons.
An Accra High Court has convicted some five accused persons said to be members of the Western Togoland Restoration Front (WTRF), an offshoot of Homeland Study Group (HSG) after finding them guilty for offences contrary to the Prohibited Organisations Act. 1976 (SMCD 20).
Per the brief facts of the case, the said convicts were arrested after police investigations for perpetrating crimes including attacks on officers of the Ghana Police Service.
Trial judge, Her Ladyship Mary E Yanzur charged the 1st accused person; Ebenezer Gblorkpor for 3 counts of attending meetings of a prohibited organization contrary to section 2 (1) (b) of SMCD 20, making contributions to the funds of a prohibited organization contrary to section 2 (1) (g) of SMCD 20 and participating in the campaign of a prohibited organization contrary to section 2 (1) (d) of SMCD 20.
The 2nd accused person, Afetorgbor Kpogo was found guilty and convicted for attending meetings of a prohibited organisation contrary to section 2(1)(b) of SMCD 20.
The 3rd accused person. Joseph Nyamewu, the 4th accused person, Wisdom Kuvor, and the 5th accused person Israel Bessah Kpexor were all found guilty and convicted for participating in the campaign of a prohibited organization contrary to section 2 (1) (d) of SMCD 20 and being a member of a prohibited organization contrary to section 2 (1) (i) of SMCD 20.
Prosecution was conducted by Ms. Adoma Osei Senior State Attorney of the Office of the Attorney-General.
Sentencing has been deferred to 21st March 2023.
Brief facts of the case:
The report on the case noted that these persons belonging to the group established by Michael Koku Kwabla were part of recruits who attended meetings, participated in campaigns, and made contributions to the cause of the group.
Members of the Western Togoland group, on the dawn of September 25, 2020, divided themselves into groups, blocked the Aveyime road from Accra, and burnt tyres.
They also attacked police stations at the Aveyime and Mepe areas, wielding guns and other weapons with which they overpowered the policemen, freed inmates from the cells, broke into the armoury of the stations, and stole arms and ammunition.
“They also stole a police patrol vehicle with registration number GP 195, proceeded to attack the barracks, and made away with monies and other items belonging to the police residents and their families,” parts of the report read.
The members of the group also attacked a police team that was sent to intervene in the situation and injured 3 of them, including their leader; Chief Superintendent Dennis Fiakpui.
Read below the full report on Western Togoland Case
Retired Colonel Festus Aboagye, a security expert, has revealed that the commotion surrounding Western Togoland’s invasion of the country was fraud.
Homeland Study Group wanted the Volta, Oti, and parts of the Upper East Regionto be made an autonomous country to be known as Western Togoland.
Some members of the separatist group were accused of causing mayhem in the Volta, arrested and later charged with treason felony, conspiracy to commit crime amongst others.
Speaking on the Big Issue on Citi TV with Selorm Adonoo, the Retired Colonel, rubbished reports that some terrorists attempted to invade Ghana.
“This hoax about Western Togoland, terrorists invading Ghana was a ploy. In the process, the Ghana Armed Forces were deployed and casualties occurred. People were arrested, and we saw them in the media. As of now, can any journalist tell us where those arrested persons are? What has been the outcome of that event?” he asked.
Background
The group made a number of attempts to push its agenda. In 2020, the group blocked some major roads that connect Volta Region to Ghana’s capital city, Accra.
Members of the separatist group even declared independence for the imaginary Western Togoland country on May 9, 2019.
In October 2020, the government of Ghana arraigned 78 of the alleged separatists suspected to be behind the violent attacks in the Volta Region.
They were charged, variously, with; treason felony, conspiracy to commit crime, namely, treason felony, conspiracy to commit crime, namely, participating in a campaign of prohibited organization namely Western Togoland, conspiracy to commit crime, namely, causing unlawful damage.
The activities of the group sparked some other incidents in the region including a raid by some secessionists on the Aveyime and Mepe police stations which led to the release of cell inmates and the theft of 10 assault rifles.
Police officers were also injured in the ensuing confrontations, whilst two persons were killed.
Security personnel also said they foiled a plan by the group to burn down the Ho Central Market and other key installations.
The Homeland Study Group Foundation, however, denied any involvement in the violent incidents.
The Criminal Division of the Accra High Court has granted bail to seven accused persons standing trial in the Western Togoland Restoration Front case in a combined sum of GH¢2,800.00.
The seven were each admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢400,000 with two sureties to be justified.
This was after the prosecution had substituted the previous charge sheet with a new one.
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to charges including participating and being members of a prohibited organization.
Their lawyers made bail applications for them before Justice El-Freda Dankyi which was granted.
The case has been adjourned to November 25, 2021.
The accused persons are Ernest Dzitor, Samuel Yao Fiagbedzi, Richard Doglo Ametepe, Prosper Avumenyi, Benjamin Kplevi, Isaac Kwesi Afeku and Richard Dzri alias Mumuni.
Leader and founder of secessionist group, Western Togoland, Charles Komi Kudzordzi popularly known as Papavi has been arrested from his hideout, 3news has reported.
According to the 3news report, the Octogenarian was smoked from his hideout in Ho by a team of National Intelligence Bureau and National Security officials on Wednesday night after gathering intelligence.
The Homeland Study Group Foundation head had been declared wanted by the police after he organised a retreat of some sort declaring independence in the Volta Regional capital Ho.
The action which was described as a coup attempt resulted in the arrest of the 80-year-old and eight others in May 2019.
The charges were later dropped by the state but a Ho District Court ordered for the arrest of the 80-year-old secessionist leader and two others on November 20, 2019, after they declared parts of the Volta Region a sovereign state.
Papavi Kudzordzi went into hiding following the declaration and had been on the run since then.
The Circuit Court in Accra presided over by Mr. Emmanuel Marvin Essandoh has granted bail in a combined sum of GH¢2.5 million to 25 of the accused persons who have been charged in the Togoland case.
The 25 accused persons have each been granted bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with two sureties each.
The sureties, the court said, should be public servants earning not less than GH¢4000 per month and report to the police.
4 out of the 29 who appeared before the court today were also discharged after the prosecution had amended its charge sheet.
They are on charges including treason felony.
In court on Tuesday when the case was called, ASP Sylvester Asare amended the charge sheet with a new one where 4 of the accused persons were discharged.
He said investigations were ongoing and prayed the court to remand them to assist with investigations.
It was the case of the prosecution that, the court does not have jurisdiction to take the plea of the accused persons and so should not grant them bail.
But lawyers of the accused persons while praying for bail argued that the treatment the accused persons have been subjected to is an infringement of their human rights.
They argued further that, some of the accused persons have their wives and relatives depend on them for their shelter.
The lawyers said “considering where they are coming from, our prayer this morning is for you to grant them bail. Some might be going through illnesses before the arrest was made.â€
A total of 78 people died through road crashes in the Western Region between January and September this year.
The figure, however, showed a decline as compared to that of 2019, which saw 111 deaths within the same period.
Chief Superintendent Richard Appiah, Commander of the Western Regional Motor Transport and Traffic Department (MTTD), disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
He said the frequent educational programmes the MTTD organises for drivers had helped in reducing the death as a result of road crashes.
He indicated that pedestrian knock-downs also increased from 107 to 141 for the same period.
Chief Supt Appiah said 657 persons were injured this year out of which 268 were serious as against 374 minor.
In 2019, at the same period, the total number of injured persons was 426, with 323 serious and 389 minor.
Total road crashes recorded for 2020 stood at 709, while 2019 recorded 802 with 67 as against 90 case fatalities, he said.
Chief Supt Appiah mentioned speeding by drivers and lack of alertness by pedestrians as some of the causes.
He cautioned motorist and pedestrians to be extra careful and refrain from using mobile phones while driving or walking.
He said the police would continue to institute measures to help curb road crashes, including prosecuting persons who violated the Road Traffic Act.
The Volta Regional House of Chiefs is calling for the withdrawal of security personnel deployed to the region following the invasion of members of secessionist group, Western Togoland.
The House believes the continued presence of security personnel in the area will discourage citizens from casting their ballot in the upcoming general elections.
“The call from citizens is that the House should demand the withdrawal of this security personnel from the region forthwith so as to reduce the fear of intimidation being exhibited by the security personnel,†the House said in a statement.
Security personnel were dispatched to the region after members of the secessionist group in the early hours of Friday, September 25, 2020, blocked the JuapongAccra and SogakopeAccra main roads.
The House pointed out that the personnel had since not been recalled, despite calm returning to the area.
It said deliberations held with high ranking government officials about insecurity in the Volta Region had not yielded positive results.
Below is the statement from the Volta Regional House of Chiefs
Defence lawyers in the ongoing Volta Secessionists case have clashed with prosecution over the jurisdiction of the court where the accused persons were arraigned.
The Prosecution led by ASP Sylvester Asare today amended the charge sheet earlier filed on November 9 which had some 24 accused persons standing trial to 32 after two persons were discharged.
The latest amended charge sheet has 10 new suspects who are Samuel Yao Fiagbedzi, Samuel Atsu Gagbetor, Atsu Awudzi, Akorlie Dzitotor, Papa Denyo, Joseph Nyamewu, Afetorgbo Kpogo, Selorm Dorpe, Charles Gakpe Agbohla and Mawuta Gadri.
It is the contention of the defence team that some of the charges including the charge of treason felony is an indictable trial and therefore the Circuit Court does not have the jurisdiction to deal with the issue.
They wondered why prosecution who is on the say page with them on the jurisdiction of the court would continue to arrange the accused persons at the Circuit Court.
The defence team, therefore, urged the court to strike out those charges it does not have jurisdiction and deal with those it had jurisdiction.
According to the defence lawyers, the position of the prosecution is a plan to infringe on the fundamental human rights of the accused persons and also abuse of court processes
This was after the prosecution had asked the court to remand the accused persons into custody for the prosecution to continue with their investigations.
The court presided over by Her Honour Rosemond Baah Tosu however asked the defence lawyers to come with a formal application for the prosecution to respond to it.
The court has therefore adjourned sitting to December 9, 2020, after the General Elections.
The two who were discharged to go home were Komla Kovi and Atto Kodak Fiagbe.
The 29 accused persons who have been charged with treason felony in the Western Togoland saga were left murmuring in court when their remand warrant was renewed for two weeks.
This was after lawyers of the accused persons had prayed the court to grant bail to the accused persons of which the court declined.
The lawyers urged the court to remand the accused persons for one week to allow the prosecution to deal with their investigations instead of the usual two weeks for remand.
The circuit court judge, Rosemary Baah Tosu, remanded the accused persons to two weeks which fall on the second of next month.
At this point, all the accused persons in the courtroom were heard murmuring.
State prosecutors told the Court that the state is not interested in chasing innocent people.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sylvester Asare told the court that officers have been sent into the bush in their attempt to conclude investigations.
He, therefore, prayed the court to remand the accused persons for further two weeks for the prosecution to continue with its investigations.
One of the 100 secessionists who were arrested during a ‘freedom’ fight in September in the Volta region, has been reported dead while in Police custody.
According to a CitiFM report, this news was confirmed by the Counsel for the suspects, Theophilus Donkor.
Confirming the development in an interview, he said: “As far as I know, I can confirm to you that one of those persons is no more with us.â€
The Counsel for the suspects further averred that the Police is yet to speak on the issue as well as brief the family of the deceased about the rather bizarre situation.
He explained that “As far as we know in Ghana, which I know they [police] know, that the dead body belongs to the family so the family should have been consulted by this time, but they have decided, or they are deliberately deciding not to communicate that information to the family.â€
Meanwhile, the name of the deceased is still unknown as Mr. Donkor decided to hold on to the identity of the said person.
The Circuit Court in Accra presided over by Mr. Emmanuel Marvin Essandoh has admitted Dr. Nathaniel Acolatse, an alleged financier of Western Togoland branch of Lapaz and his organizer to bail.
Dr. Acolatse, a clinician at Amasaman government hospital and Samuel Kasraku, a carpenter were both granted bail in the sum of GH ¢100,000 with two sureties each.
The sureties are to be public servants who earn not less than GH¢ 2,000.
Dr. Acolatse, 45, a former National Health Insurance coordinator and Kasraku, 43, according to the facts read to the court both hail from Kedzi a town in the Keta municipality and Vakpo, a town near Kpando respectively.
Both are all staunch promoters and advocates of the prohibited group Western Togoland.
The two have been charged of abetment of crime namely participating in a prohibited organization but have both pleaded not guilty.
According to the prosecution, Dr. Acolatse, finances the group in the area of medical supplies and for effective provision of the supplies to the group quit his role at the National Health Insurance office to be a clinician at the Amasaman Hospital.
Kasraku, the prosecution said is the organizer of the Lapaz branch of the group where the members seldom meet.
The prosecution said national security operatives following recent attacks of the group in the Volta Region sought to arrest persons linked to the group and the two were rounded up.
Two other persons Solomon Doh and Togbe Yesu who are alleged to be part of the group and have planned detailed attacks yet to be carried out are all at large.
Mr Richard Amofa, former Eastern Regional Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has cautioned that no secession attempt in Ghana would succeed as government was fully on top of the country,s security.
He also warned the Western Togoland separatists and all those who were backing them to commit crimes against the state to think twice of their actions adding that “Ghanaians are not afraid of any secessionist group.”
He said the incidents that happened in the Volta region, where the secessionist group attacked security installations and blocked the main Accra-Ho road at Juapong should not be taken as a failure on the part of government, because “there were men in the country, who could retaliate and equally crush them out, but did not want to do so because they want to maintain peace and stability in the country”.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Amofa said the breaking in of some police armouries in the Volta region was a serious crime and indicated that government would deal with them squarely and retrieve all the ammunitions in their custody for the safety of the public.
He described the assertion by Mrs Helen Ntoso, Member of Parliament for Krachi West Constituency, that the NPP was behind the separatists attack to suppress votes[GE1] in her region was as unfortunate and baseless.
He said government had nothing to do with it and commended government for peacefully handling the situation well, adding that the calmness of government and the people of Ghana was to allow peace to reign.
The former youth organizer appealed to Ghanaians to have total trust and confidence in the army to deal with the so-called secessionist group and assured that government would leave no stone unturned in ensuring a peaceful atmosphere here, during and after the December 7, elections.
The Ghana Police Service says 59 suspects including two females have been remanded by the court since the first attacks in the Volta Region on Friday, September 25, by secessionists.
Additionally, one person who was on the police wanted list for attacking the Aveyime Police Station has also been arrested.
According to the police, he was arrested at Adzasika near Mafi Kumase in the Volta Region on October 5.
The suspect led police to a bush where he dug out firearms and ammunition he stole during the attack on the police station.How police retrieved firearms from Western Togoland secessionists”https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.415.1_en.html#goog_108591774Volume 90%
This follows a simultaneous attack was launched by a secessionist group on two Police stations in Aveyime and Mepe as part of their activities to claim parts of the Volta Region as Western Togoland.
Subsequently, another group attacked the Ho STC yard and burnt two out of 11 buses parked in the yard.
The police have urged calm and have assured Ghanaians that they have the situation under control.
Meanwhile, government says secessionist groups and their activities will not be tolerated in the country despite suggestions to deal amicably with them.
Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu has assured President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that the House will remain united in the fight against secessionist movements in the Volta region.
Speaking on the floor of parliament on Tuesday October 6, Mr Iddrisu who is also the Member of Parliament for Tamale South described the action of the group as an ugly threat to the stability of the country.
“There is an ugly threat to the stability, sovereignty and integrity of Ghana in the Volta Region.
“The President as Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) should be assured that he has the full support of the House to deal decisively, ruthlessly with the threat to the sovereignty and integrity of our country. We cannot afford a disunited Ghana,†he remarked.
About 60 persons have so far been arrested in connection with recent disturbances.
The disturbances were caused by suspected members of the Western Togoland secessionist group.
Fifty-four of these suspects have been remanded in custody as government intensifies security operations in the Region to bring the insurgency under control.
Various bodies have called on the government to be brutal in the response against the group.
The Christian Council of Ghana on behalf of all the Ecumenical Church Leaders in Ghana noted that the security agencies alone cannot deal with the insurgence in the Volta Region.
According to the Christian body, the matter has taken a political twist, therefore it requires the involvement of the political class to step in.
A statement issued by Most Rev Dr Paul K Boafo, Chairman of the Christian Council, on Monday, October 5 called on the government to constantly engage the chiefs and the people of the Volta Region on the way forward on this matter.
“The security breaches that these acts have become too common in Ghana and it is time they are stamped out.
“Some Police stations have been attacked recently and many innocent Ghanaians are killed, maimed and assaulted.
It added: “The present matter of the call of secession in the Volta Region is substantially a political matter. Security operations alone will be insufficient to address it adequately. We pledge our readiness to support government to address the issue amicable. In this regard, we will support the government in engaging the chiefs and people of the Region to achieve national cohesion.
“We would like to appeal to all Ghanaians especially the chiefs, youths and people of the eastern corridor communities of the country to remain calm in the face of provocation, to desist from being used to perpetrate the evil intentions of others and to safeguard the fledging peace we enjoy in Ghana.â€
“We would like to call on the government to as a matter of urgency get all the security services to declare a war on violent crimes especially armed robberies and to eradicate this from our society,†the statement said.
A video of how the police retrieved weapons stolen by some suspected Western Togoland secession campaigners in a recent attack has emerged.
The weapons were stolen by some men believed to be members of the Western Togoland secession group during an attack on the Aveyime and Mepe Police Stations in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region.
The armed men, simultaneously took over both police stations, overpowered the police officers, and and stole the weapons which were in the armory.
The Ghana Police Service, in giving an update on the matter indicated that the stolen weapons were retrieved on Friday, September 25, 2020.
“The vehicles, weapons and other items seized or stolen by the “elements†on Friday 25th September 2020 have also been retrieved.â€
The Police reiterated that they were in control of the situation and that life had returned to normal in the affected regions.
“Security agencies wish to reiterate that adequate security is on the ground in the affected areas in the Volta, Oti and Eastern regions and all other parts of the country. Life has returned to normal as residents are going about their daily activities without fear of insecurity,†part of the statement reads.
They also indicated that thirty-one persons in connection to the disturbances have been arrested have been provisionally charged and presented in court for allocation.
“The general public is being assured to remain calm as security agencies will continue to count on their assistance to arrest all perpetrators to face the law,†the statement added.
The Western Togoland succession issue has become a political hot potato that defies a simple solution.
Believers of the Western Togoland separation argue that the solution which the United Nations implemented in 1957, making the territory a part of Ghana, was unfair.
But, unfortunately, they have only been making this case after the fact.
Although there were strong views against union with Ghana by sections of the populace, yet no boycott of the plebiscite occurred.
This was probably because the anti-unionists thought they would be victorious in the plebiscite.
They failed, however, and on the basis of a report submitted to the UN by the Commissioner appointed by the Trusteeship Council to organize the plebiscite, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution, on 13 December 1956, providing for the union of Western Togoland with Ghana.
This is what the resolution says:
Below is the document that contains the UN document;
The Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) has urged the government to use all legitimate means to crush the criminal elements disturbing the peace of the Volta Region under the guise of secession and expose all those behind them.
“There should be no room to deal with these criminals with kid gloves through dialogue and negotiations because these will strengthen their resolve to entrench their activities and spread their tentacles to become an albatross around the neck of the state,†it said.
A statement signed by the flag bearer of the party, Dr Henry Herbert Lartey, and issued in Accra said the party received news of the activities of the group with grave concern.
It said it found the unwarranted destruction of property, especially the burning down of buses belonging to the State Transport Company (STC), the brutalisation of security persons at STC bus terminal, the blocking of major roads and other criminal activities as a threat to the state.
Security
It said the security agencies must not allow the unscrupulous persons to have the breathing space to engage in any further activities because Ghana could not afford to live with such threats, especially going into the December polls.
It said it was incumbent on the people of the area and Ghanaians in general to be on the look out and provide information on the activities of all suspicious persons to the security agencies to enable them to nip in the bud any further attacks.
Government
The statement said the continued provision of adequate and prompt information on the issue by state agencies would prevent speculation and rumours leading to misinformation, fear and panic.
It urged state agencies to consult and collaborate with major stakeholders, such as the traditional authorities, social groups, religious organisations and community leaders, as a means of sending a strong signal that those hoodlums had no room in any part of the country to operate.
“Another way of sending a strong and unambiguous message to these nation wreckers that their criminal activities have no room in the current democratic dispensation is for all political parties to condemn these acts and support the government in dealing with these criminals,†it said.
It said Ghanaians must not relent in their effort at jealously guarding the peace, security, stability, unity and democratic credentials that had earned the country international accolades.
Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo, a legal practitioner, has called for the resignation of the Volta Regional Minister, Archibald Letsa, following separatist violence under his jurisdiction.
“At the minimum, the Volta Regional Minister should have gone because he failed,†Mr. Addo said on The Big Issue.
“It is on his watch that this activity happened. It is a major security failure,†he insisted further.
Mr. Addo added that the security apparatus in the Volta Region needed to be held accountable.
“Anyone connected with the security architecture in the Volta Region has questions to answer because, at the minimum, intelligence should have picked up the fact that something like this was going to happen.â€
The lawyer stressed that the government needed to treat the separatist threat with more gravity.
“On hindsight, we are realising that these people are not playing… if we are handling them with kids gloves, we need to tighten them.â€
The Volta Regional Minister has had to fend off claims he is the patron of one of the separatist groups, the Homeland Study Group Foundation.
Dr. Letsa has threatened to sue persons suggesting that he funded activities of the separatist movement.
The Homeland Study Group has appeared to be the instigators of the most recent separatist violence in the region.
Ghanaians woke up last week Friday to reports that the Western Togoland secessionist group had blocked some major roads leading into the Volta Region.
They mounted roadblocks on the JuapongAccra and SogakopeAccra main roads.
A raid by Western Togoland secessionists on the Aveyime and Mepe police stations led to release of cell inmates and the theft of 10 assault rifles.
Police officers were also injured in the ensuing confrontations.
Security personnel also said they foiled a plan by the Group to burn down the Ho Central Market and other key installations.
But the following Monday, the group attacked the Ho State Transport Corporation yard and set fire to some buses.
The Homeland Study Group wants a part of the Volta Region to be an autonomous country known as Western Togoland.
The group has made a number of attempts to push for the secession of the Volta Region from Ghana for the creation of a Western Togoland.
The group even declared independence for the Western Togoland on May 9, 2019.
The Western Togoland is a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO).
The police have picked up five more persons who allegedly invaded two police stations in the Volta Region.
They are; Bright Sosu, Desmond Sosu, Richard Doglo Ametefe, Benjamin Kpelive and Raphael Tettevi.
The accused, who have no legal representation, have since been charged with three counts of conspiracy, stealing, participation in the campaign of a prohibited organization namely Western Togoland, and causing unlawful damage.
Their charges were read out and explained to them.
The court presided over by Mrs Rosemary Baah Torsu however preserved their pleas and remanded to police custody to reappear on October 13.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sylvester Asare prayed the court to remand the accused pending further investigations.
Prosecution led by ASP Asare said the accused persons were residents and natives of Apepe, Battor and Volo in the Volta region and they are also members of a prohibited organization namely Western Togoland also in the Volta region
ASP Asare said on September 25, this year, the accused together with others numbering over 20, armed themselves with offensive weapons such as cutlasses and guns and besieged the Aveyime and Mepe Police stations respectively.
According to the prosecutor, the accused persons attacked the charge offices of these stations, overpowered a few personnel on duty and thus vandalised property such as police vehicles, computers, office furniture worth GH¢50,000.00.
Prosecution said they further broke into the armoury of the Police Stations and made away with 10 AK47 rifles.
The accused fled from the scene on board a police vehicle amidst firing to ward off the community members.
Prosecution said later, the accused abandoned the police vehicle.
According to prosecution, on September 29 and 30, this year, the accused persons were arrested based on Police intelligence at Volo, Apepe, and Battor in the Volta Region.
Prosecution said efforts were underway to arrest more accused persons and accomplices to help retrieve the stolen AK 47 rifles.
Seasoned journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr has slammed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his government over their response to the Western Togoland secession brouhana.
Some residents in the Volta Region have engaged in violent attacks days ago to demand freedom from Ghana.
Popularly called the Western Togoland Secessionists, the group has attacked the State Transport Corporation (STC) and some Police stations in the Region.
They set some buses belonging to the STC ablaze, calling on the government to grant them independence to become a country.
Recently responding to the group, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in an interview on Hello FM during his tour in the Ashanti Region, stressed that he has left the issue in the capable hands of the appropriate security personnel.
“I have to be calm because institutions are in place. The security agencies are doing their work. They’ve started already and we’ll see results. If I panic, the country panics. It’s like the COVID-19 disease, if I had panicked, fear would have gripped all of us. But I know the work that God has appointed me to do, if I panic, the entire nation will also panic. That is not the purpose of leadership. I’m supposed to assure people that our country will work. What is happening in the Volta Region in the time of these handful – it’s just a handful of people, these secessionists – we’ll deal with it. I have no doubts about it,” he said.
“I trust the security agencies. I trust the Armed Forces. I trust the Police. I trust their leadership. The intelligence agencies, I know they are all working very, very, very hard to make sure that this matter is dealt with as quickly as possible”, the president added.
But Kwesi Pratt Jnr is of a strong opinion that the government is not treating the issue with the required seriousness.
“I’ve seen the Police situation report. Twenty-four (24) hours before the incident, the Police report indicated that these things were going to happen. According to the report we have, the attacks took place around 1:30 am. The security agencies got on the ground at 12 noon. What is happening?
“Take a look at the number of Ministers responsible for security; we can count about four or five (5). When you add the Defence Minister, it’s about five and all this can still go on. What are you telling us? Do you think we’re children or what? All this happening with all this security architecture, why?” he questioned.
He revealed that the government knew about the plans of the secessionist group beforehand but stood aloof for it to happen.
“Government knows; the security knows who they are, where they are. What is happening? Somebody must be telling us something sensible.”
He also wondered why the President has not taken drastic actions against the group.
“One of the duties of the President is that he signs death warrant…You have a huge responsibility when we hand over the reins of the country to you…Is everything we do in government good? Is espionage a good thing? Is war a good thing? Governments declare war; people die and so on. The litmus test is whether or not the actions being taken by the government are in the national interest or they’re not in the national interest”, he said on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’.
The Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, has threatened to sue persons suggesting that he funded activities of the separatist movement, Homeland Study Group Foundation.
The name of the Minister has come up as being a patron of the group in a number of media engagements with some persons claiming to be members of the separatist movement.
In a recent interview with a local TV station in the Volta Region, V1 TV, two men who were interviewed on grounds of anonymity claimed the regional minister provided them, amongst other things, food in 2014.
But the Regional Minister in a Citi News interview warned that he will take legal action against any person or group of people seeking to defame him.
“I have asked the TV station that interviewed people to may such grievous claims on anonymity to produce those individuals. If they bring out their faces, boldly making such claims, I will sue them in court for defaming my hard-earned reputation.â€
He stressed his loyalty to the Republic of Ghana.
“I do not know them. How can I be associated with a group that wants to secede from the Republic of Ghana? My loyalty to the republic is 100%. It does not even cross my mind.â€
Activities of Secessionist groups
Ghanaians on Friday, September 25, 2020, witnessed reports that the group had blocked some major roads leading into the Volta Region.
They mounted roadblocks on the JuapongAccra, and SogakopeAccra main roads.
The roadblocks were subsequently cleared as security agencies took control of the highways and strategic installations within the region.
Homeland Study Group Foundation wants the Volta Region and sections of the northern part of Ghana to be an autonomous country known as Western Togoland.
The group has made a number of attempts to push for the secession of the Volta Region from Ghana for the creation of a Western Togoland state.
The group even declared independence for the Western Togoland in November 2019.
Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister has debunked reports alleging that he was part of the secessionists’ group, and had even provided funding to support some of their previous meetings.
“I got to know about the group when I took office as Minister, I have never been their patron, I have never been their financier….I will never be a sympathiser of any group that wants to secede from the Republic of Ghana.
“I have total commitment and loyalty to the republic of Ghana and I know Volta region is part and parcel of the republic of Ghana so I cannot consciously support a group that wants to secede from the republic of Ghana,†he stated.
Dr Letsa was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency commended the security agencies for swiftly quelling the activities of the group when they blocked roads and attacked police stations in some part of the Region.
He said, but for the vigilance and swift intervention by the security agencies, the secessionists’ activities would have been more devastating as some of their planned activities became fruitless due to the quick response from the security.
The Minister said the activity of the group was a serious threat to the development of the Region and the country as a whole, therefore a collective effort was required to nip it in the bud, saying “when we are dealing with security issues, we must unite.â€
He said the Regional Security Council was working with other relevant stakeholders, with the stepping up of security and intelligence to track the movement of the group to ensure peace and tranquility in the Region.
Dr Letsa called on the public to collaborate with the security agencies and provide them with information regarding any group or individuals whose activity intended to plunge the region or country into chaos.
He urged residents in the Region to go about their lawful economic activities without fear as the security was in control of the situation to ensure their safety and protection.
Three traditional areas in the Hohoe Municipality have dissociated themselves from the recent separatist activities of the secessionists group in the Volta region.
The areas, Fodome, Gbledi and Wli traditional authorities have condemned the behaviour of the group, the Homeland Study Group Foundation, an offshoot of Western Togoland Restoration Front, seeking independence of parts of the region.
They said the activities undermined the peace and freedom enjoyed in the region and the nation as a whole adding that they had no association with the group nor supported their atrocious acts.
Togbega Gbedegbleme Akpatsa II, Paramount Chief of the Fodome Traditional Area, in a speech read on his behalf by Togbe Digirigi I, Omankrado of Fodome Agbesia, said the Area had not endorsed the acts by the group and urged its citizens to avoid such group to ensure peace in the area adding that the area was not ready to come to the defence of any culprit.
“Just as I stated last year when I was hosted at the Jubilee House by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, I want to reiterate my stance that I have no support for secessionist activities in my traditional area. And no portion of Fodome Traditional Area will be allowed to be used for any subversive activities against the state. The people of the area will co-operate fully with the government and security agencies in arresting any such deviants for peace and sanity to prevail.â€
Togbega Akpatsa expressed gratitude to the Government for its developmental projects in the area especially the establishment of the campus of the School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS).
Togbega Homatekpor V, Paramount Chief of Gbledi Traditional Area, said the attack by the separatist group on the state security and State Transport Corporation buses was not far from a terrorist attack.
He distanced the traditional area from the group and their activities which he described as barbaric and had the tendency to destabilise the democracy of the nation.
The paramount Chief believed the miscreants could be far from the destruction scene and appealed to Ghanaians to provide information for their arrest.
Togbega Lo I, Paramount Chief of Wli Traditional Area, speaking through Togbe Sonyi, his Warlord said the “Chiefs and people do not accept nor approve of the actions of this group and its affiliates and completely distanced ourselves from them.”
“It is our hope that the authorities will take the appropriate steps to deal with those involved in these criminal acts in order to safeguard the peace and unity of our beloved region and country.”
Dean of the School of Performing Arts of the University of Ghana, Professor Kofi Agyekum, popularly known as Opanyin Agyekum has registered his displeasure with the recent happenings in the Volta Region involving a group described as the Western Togoland Secessionists.
Members of the group have recently been agitating for the restoration of the Western Togoland as an independent State from Ghana.
Secessonists Attacks
The group, on Friday, September 25, 2020, blocked some major roads in the Volta Region impeding vehicular movement and leaving passengers commuting to areas in the Region very stranded.
They also attacked some Police stations in the Region amidst beliefs that they went in search for ammunitions to advance their course.
On Tuesday, September 29, some buses belonging to the State Transport Corporation were set ablaze and the group is said to have masterminded the arson attack.
Counter Force
Some people have called on the government to apply counter force to bring the group to order.
Seasoned journalist, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako shares a common belief that the use of counter force will help to resolve the issue.
To him, dialogue as some concerned persons have suggested is not the solution.
“Dialogue to what end? dialoguing with whom and for what?
“You sit with them to achieve what purpose? . . . They’re already on board. They’re within Ghana. They’re Ghanaian citizens. So, what are we going to negotiate?” he questioned.
“If they use force, we should apply counter force . . . If they apply force, the State of Ghana should apply counter force to keep the unitary character of Ghana intact…No compromise on that; there will be no negotiation,” he insisted.
No Gov’t Will Accept Your Demand
Also speaking in relation to the issue, Opanyin Agyekum says no government will heed the demands of the secessionists.
Accoridng to him, the Western Togoland that the group is demanding has no basis and is non-existent.
Opanyin Agyekum wondered why the group is misbehaving because, to him, Ghana is blessed with over 70 ethnic groups which have amalgamated and peacefully exist.
He cautioned the secessionists to stop their attacks saying ”we don’t have anything as Western Togo anywhere. So, let nobody think he or she can separate himself/herself and I don’t believe any government will sit on the fence and watch them go. Where will they be leaving to?…It won’t work”.
The Institute for Peace and Governance (IPEG) has asked the government to exercise force in dealing with the rise of separatist agitations by the Western Togoland/Secessionist Group, whose activities constitute a challenge to the existence of Ghana as a state.
A statement issued and signed by Justin Bayor, Programme Director of IPEG, noted that there is most likely to be an increase in the number of such attacks from now till December 2020 and beyond.
The attacks will most probably be centered on state infrastructure/installations as well a property, with minimal deaths and injuries, he said.
These attacks may be concentrated on installations within Western Togoland in the beginning, Mr Bayor continued.
He said the activities of the secessionists will eventually graduate with time into violent activities with mass destruction and mass murder as the object within Western Togoland.
“The violent activities of the secessionists will then assume dimensions to cover other parts of the country, beyond Western Togoland territory.
“We recommend that the State employs its resources to ramp-up its intelligence gathering capabilities, key to repulsing them, so as to prevent the secessionist group from reaching its projected evolvement.
“The State harnesses its Influence, Authority and Capabilities, irrespective of Election 2020 and whichever government is in power, to deal mercilessly with all persons identified as being directly involved in the activities of this group(s) because they are in the process of changing to domestic terrorists.
“The State, led by the Government, should project force and might in their response so as to give re-assurance to Ghanaians on their ability and capacity to deal with the situation. This will halt the civilian population from taking up arms to defend themselves against this group(s).â€
Dr. Emmanuel Bombande, Board Chairperson of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflicts has said that Ghana as a country has enjoyed cohesion and unity since the country gained its independence over 60 years ago.
Therefore, claims by some minority groups who are demanding independence for an imagined Western Togoland state should be considered irrelevant.
According to him, the principles and values that informed the 1956 plebiscite have been disrespected by this group.
Speaking on Joy News on Wednesday, Dr. Bombande said: “The separatist group is simply an opportunist organisation that is seeking to subvert the will of the people who voted to join Ghana in the plebiscite of 1956.â€
He added that there is no legal basis for the Ghanaian government to engage the separatists over a non-existent Western Togoland.
Dr. Emmanuel Bombande stated that the actions of the group is a time-wasting strategy which can eventually destabilise the country.
He, however, urged Ghanaians to appreciate the chiefs who have used their positions of influence to condemn the attacks.
“The human rights of the 31 [persons] currently on trial should be respected so [that] the separatist group does not capitalise on any abuse.
“This will exemplify that the modern democratic state of Ghana takes care of everybody with fairness and equity,†Dr Bombande argued.
President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has responded to the recent attacks by some secessionist group in the Volta Region.
In what can best pass for brazen assurance, the president stated emphatically that the country will definitely “deal with them”, since the security agencies are on top of the issue.
The group on Friday, September 25, 2020 blocked some principal roads in the Region and on Tuesday, September 29, some unidentified people believed to be members of the group carried out an arson attack on the State Transport Corporation (STC) in Ho, setting fires to the company’s buses.
The group is demanding to become an autonomous country called ”Western Togoland”.
The actions by the secessionist have become a grave concern to the entire nation with some political figures and socio-economic commentators condemning the group.
Some people have also slammed the President for going silent on the issue.
Visiting the studios of Hello FM in Kumasi on Wednesday, September 30, President Nana Akufo-Addo opened up on the matter.
According to him, he has left the matter in the capable hands of the security personnel, stressing the appropriate institutions are up to task.
He said he has unflinching confidence in the security agencies to handle the case and ensure the perpetrators are brought to book.
He was of a strong conviction that the situation will be well handled by the security agencies.
”I have to be calm because institutions are in place. The security agencies are doing their work. They’ve started already and we’ll see results. If I panic, the country panics. It’s like the COVID-19 disease, if I had panicked, fear would have gripped all of us. But I know the work that God has appointed me to do, if I panic, the entire nation will also panic. That is not the purpose of leadership. I’m supposed to assure people that our country will work. What is happening in the Volta Region in the time of these handful – it’s just a handful of people, these secessionists – we’ll deal with it. I have no doubts about it”
”I trust the security agencies. I trust the Armed Forces. I trust the Police. I trust their leadership. The intelligence agencies, I know they are all working very, very, very hard to make sure that this matter is dealt with as quickly as possible”, he said in an exclusive interview with host King Edward de Slave.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency in the Volta Region, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says he is reliably informed the secessionists who launched attacks on security installations over the weekend were largely from Togo and not Volta Region.
According to him, his fact-finding after the incidence has pointed to the fact that the language of the large majority of the attackers who besieged the two police stations at Mepe and Avehime in his constituency did not sound Ghanaian as there was variation in the Ewe language.
Ghanaians woke up to the news of some secessionist group blocking roads leading to the Volta Region while clamouring for independence from Ghana.
On Friday, September 25, 2020, some of the members of the group blocked some major roads and burnt lorry tyres on the ECOWAS road at Tademe, some kilometres away from the Sogakope Bridge in the South Tongu District impeding vehicular movement and leaving passengers traveling to areas in the Region stranded.
The group also attacked Police stations at Aveyime and Mepe in the North Tongu District, amidst demands for the Volta Region to be an autonomous country known as “Western Togoland”.
However, in a swift response, a joint team from the Military and the Ghana Police Service nipped it in the bud with 31 people being arrested in connection with the uprising.
Surprisingly, on Tuesday dawn, the the secessionist group carried out an arson attack at the State Transport Corporation (STC) yard in Ho.
Commenting on Okay FM’s Ade Akye Abia Morning Show about the secessionists attack, the NDC MP said his assertions are based on briefings he received from security agencies.
“If you listen to those who are at the forefront, they are saying that the large majority of the attackers, the kind of language, even the war songs they were chanting did not sound Ghanaian; the variation of the Ewe language, at this point the suspicion is that they were from Togo and that is what many of the briefs I have received from the police chiefs are pointing to, that they were largely not from my constituency or from the Volta Region. At this point, the suspicion is that they came from Togoâ€, he asserted.
Hon Ablakwa, who is a former Deputy Education Minister, further revealed that the attacks appeared well coordinated as the secessionists simultaneously besieged the Mepe and Avehime police stations, and the offices of the District Assembly and even managed to over-power a reinforcement team from Sogakope.
“First of all, the attackers distracted the police and created the impression by a few of them that approached the police station that they were to lodge a complaint and so as the police were taking down the complaint, the others swarmed the police station and broke into the police armory at Avehime and made away 14 AK-47 rifles and 2 pump-action guns.
“A similar event occured at Mepe police station and the secessionists took from the armory 2 AK-47 rifles….So, it was welcome coordinated; those people who carried out the attack were well trained….
“The Sogakope Divisional Police Commander who rushed to the scene with reinforcement detachment was also overpowered and their weapons were also retrieved by the secessionists. And looking at the narrative from the eye-witness, clearly, the attackers were as many as 50 people at the Mepe police station and at the Avehime police station, they were about 70 people and those who laid ambush to overpower the approaching reinforcement detachment, led by the Sogakope Divisional Police Commander, we are also hearing high numbers thereâ€.
“And those who blocked the Juapong entry into the Volta Region were not less than 100 people and so it was quite a high number. What happened at the dawn of Friday was no joke; the secessionists were in possession of sophisticated weapons and they had superior firepower, quite clearly and if you listen to the police, the attackers are trained and they had weaponsâ€, he narrated.
Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa, therefore, called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who is also the Commander-In-Chief and the entire security apparatus to exercise their constitutional responsibility by protecting and preserving the territorial integrity of the country.
“We have to acknowledge that the entire national security apparatus and the head of national security council, H.E the President who is the Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces are the relevant authorities in charge of the protection and safety of the citizens which the Constitution mandates them to protect and preserve our territorial integrityâ€, he charged.
Mr Prosper Pi-Bansah, the Ho Municipal Chief Executive, says the security services have the city under control after an attack on the State Transport Corporation yard by unidentified gunmen.
He said the security services were monitoring the situation and urged residents to go about their daily activities without fear.
Mr Pi-Bansah gave the assurance in an interaction with the media after a visit to the attack scene.
He said security patrols would be intensified in the Municipality and asked for public cooperation to help end the crisis.
Gunmen suspected to be members of the Western Togoland Secessionist group, in the early hours of Monday, stormed the STC yard assaulted drivers and a security officer, and set some buses ablaze.
One bus was destroyed in the attack, and another partially burnt.
The Deputy Minister for Information, Pius Hadzide has appealed to the media to exercise great discretion in the reportage of the activities of the Homeland Study Group Foundation or any groups or individuals that may be affiliated to the Western Togoland secessionist group.
The Deputy Minister who admits that recent activities of these groups and individuals are quite serious and have serious national security implications, however, advised the media to find a fine balance between a total media blackout and regular reportage to ensure that only relevant news is reported and in a security-conscious manner.
“If care is not taken, the publicity that we may be giving to them may be counter-productive and become the oxygen that fuels them,†he told GhanaWeb.
The Deputy Minister appealed for the assistance and cooperation of the media as the State confronts this menace head-on.
“Just like the Ministry of Information led the crisis communication during COVID-19, rallying the people behind the common enemy, offering regular updates on all relevant developments and also facilitating updates from technical and specific state institutions, the Ministry will continue to adopt similar crisis communication strategies to keep all informed relative to this issue too†he added.
On the substantive issue, the Deputy Minister assured that several leads are being followed and several arrests are being made. He also indicated that the two vehicles and some weapons that were taken by the separatist groups had been retrieved by security forces.
The Deputy Minister declined any further comments insisting that too much public information may compromise the ongoing investigation but assured that security agencies have the total support of the Government in their efforts to deal with the issue.
The Africa Education Watch has called on the Education Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, to halt the reopening of schools in the Volta region amidst security threats in the area.
The call follows the recent attack on the State Transport Corporation (STC) in the Volta Regional capital, Ho, by a group of people suspected to be members of the separatist group advocating for independence from Ghana for the Western Togoland.
The members of the group reportedly fired gunshots, set ablaze one of the STC buses before proceeding to beat up some drivers.
For African Education Watch, reopening of schools in the area could lead to similar situations witnessed in Nigeria and Cameroon where the terrorist group, Boko Haram kidnapped 276 schoolgirls in the town of Chibok in the Borno State of Nigeria.
Taking to its official twitter page, Africa Education Watch noted that “from the way, things are going, and the apparent lack of any meaningful security, no one should attempt re-opening JHS & SHS in October in that Region….we know how these deadly groups targeted schools in Cameroon, Nigeria, etc. @MatthewOPrempehâ€
President AkufoAddo, in his 16th COVID-19 update to the nation, announced the resumption of school for JHS 2 and SHS 2 students on October 5, 2020.
The move forms part of efforts to ensure that the students complete their academic work as the government works towards the gradual easing of restrictions in the fight against the spread of COVID-19.
But for Africa Education Watch, the Ministry of Education should hold on with any possible resumption for students in the Volta region, at least for the meantime, due to the heavy security threats that come with the recent rampage that has been reported in parts of the area by members of the Homeland Study Group Foundation, a group demanding independence from Ghana.
From the way things are going, and the apparent lack of any meaningful security, no one should attempt re-opening JHS & SHS in October in that Region….we know how these deadly groups targeted schools in Cameroon, Nigeria etc. @MatthewOPrempeh https://t.co/wr0rXUb5EQ
The police has begun a probe into the arson that took place at the State Transport Corporation (STC) yard in Ho, Volta region on Tuesday dawn by a separatist group.
According to the police, at about 02:00 am, four armed men, stormed the Ho STC yard demanding the keys to all the vehicles parked and set two of the minibuses ablaze when the drivers did not produce the keys.
The arrival of police and fire service personnel saved the situation.
The police says its preliminary investigation shows that there were eleven vehicles parked at the time of the attack.
One bus was completely burnt and another slightly burnt.
A flag of the group, which calls itself “Western Togoland”, was found at the scene, the police noted in a statement.
The security agency has urged the public to remain calm and volunteer information for the arrest of the perpetrators.
There are several separatist groups in the Volta region advocating independence.
They say the Volta Region of Ghana is independent and autonomous Western Togoland.
It is unclear which of the groups attacks the transport yard.
The Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF), one of the separatist groups, on Friday, 25 September 2020, blocked all entries and exits to and from the region, seized two police stations, took some officers hostage and exchanged gunfire with others wounding a police commander in the process.
The police has, so far, arrested 31 people suspected to be members of the group.
Traditional leaders including Togbui Sri III, the Awomefia of the Anlo state, leaders of Gbi-Hohoe, as well as members of the National Houses of Chiefs, have all condemned the actions of the separatist groups.
Security Analyst, Adam Bonaa, has described as surprising the silence of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the National Security Minister on the disturbances by secession groups in the Volta region.
According to Mr Bonaa, the President must take the bull by the horn and address the country to assure citizens that he is charge of the situation.
Mr Bonaa added that the propaganda and information management by the government is not helpful and urged the government to be truthful.
A group of persons believed to be members of Western Togoland separatist movement Monday down attacked the State Transport Corporation (STC) in the Volta regional capital of Ho.
In this latest attack allegedly carried out by the group which follows an earlier attack on some state institutions and police stations including mounting of roadblocks on Friday 25th September 2020, some drivers in the yard were beaten while two vehicles belonging to the company were set ablaze.
The vehicles including a 14-seater bus with registration number, GG-4054-19 was burnt totally while the second one GG-1737-19 had parts of it burnt.
Speaking on the Morning Starr on Tuesday, Mr Bonaa said it is obvious the government is docile and not in charge of the situation contrary to claims by the Information Minister on Monday.
Intellectual Patriots, an advocacy group, has called for a national consensus and non-partisan approach in silencing the western Togoland Seccesionist uproar.
The secessionist group over the week assailed two police stations at Aveyime and Mepe, and made away with rifles from the stations’ armoury.
They physically assaulted police officers and blocked major roads in the region causing a gridlock in its wake.
The Advocacy Group said “it had observed with perplexity, the discussions in the media space on developments pertaining to the declaration of sovereignty by the group.”
It made the comments in a statement signed by Mr Joseph Gyamfi Yeboah, President, Intellectual Patriots, and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Tema.
With series such seperatist attempts by the group in the past, the Intellectual Patriots appealed for a more cohesive and clear national united voice to finding a lasting solution to the situation.
“A national non-partisan approach is needed to addressing this sensitive Togoland menace since it is detrimental to the unity of the nation if not dealt with dispassionately.” it said.
Mr Gyamfi Yeboah said “some political commentators were unashamedly capitalizing on the national problem to advance their debates to score political points on various media platforms by blaming the current administration.
He emphazed that the partisan twist was not the right approach in dealing with the rather sensitive issue with serious security underpinnings.
“We call on civil society, the House of Chiefs, Clergy groups, political parties and all well-meaning Ghanaians to offer support where needed to designated state agencies in order to arrive at a finality to the problem.” it concluded.
Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Chairman of the Volta Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has called on the people of the region to conduct their lawful activities without fear or intimidation.
He assured the people of the region of their safety and protection by the state security agencies as the rabble-rousers are tracked into their hideouts.
Dr Letsa said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency that there was sustained security operation across the region and especially key installations to ensure total protection of persons and property.
He disclosed that some weapons and ammunitions have been retrieved from the abodes and agents of the alleged secessionists, seeking to declare the sovereign Volta region an independent state.
He said two vehicles belonging to the North Tongu Assembly and the Ghana Police, computers and other accoutrements by the secessionists, which were abandoned by the group after the operation of Friday, have been retrieved as well.
He said state security have intensified intelligence for the safety of the population and appealed that residents should provide key information that would blow the cover of the activities of these nation-wreckers.
Dr Letsa, doubling as the Volta Regional Minister assured that the situation was under control.
He said the main entry and exit points have seen increasing security beef-up and urged the population to cooperate with the security to fish out the miscreants promising that “only those involved in the action will be arrested.”
He said the Volta Regional Coordinating Council believed the action by the group was likely to dent the investor confidence of the region and thwart its development efforts saying, “what everybody should be fighting for is development, not seceding and fomenting trouble to destabilise the government.”
An Accra Circuit court has remanded all 31 suspects in the Friday alleged separatist disturbances into BNI custody for two weeks.
They are facing five provisional charges including conspiracy to attend prohibited meeting, unlawful gathering and rioting.
The plea of the accused persons was not taken when they appeared before circuit court two on Monday September 28.
They were charged with provisional charges of conspiracy to attend meeting of prohibited organization; unlawful gathering, gathering under prohibited name of organization and rioting.
The prosecution led by ASP Sylvester Asare asked the court to remand the accused persons to allow for further investigations into the Friday incident.
He argued that they were compelled by law to present them before her court knowing very well that she lacked the jurisdiction since the incident occurred in the Volta region.
Counsel for the 31 accused persons, Theophanous Donkor, opposed the prosecution.
According to him, the 48-hour provision has already been abused hence the plea of the accused must be taken.
The counsel further argued that the provisional charged preferred against the accused persons ruled out geographical jurisprudence of the case as adduced by the prosecution.
Theophanous Donkor ended his argument with a request for bail, insisting that the prosecution should have gone to a district court if it is genuinely mindful of jurisdiction.
But ASP Asare maintained that the bail should not be a consideration at this stage as it will compromise investigation.
Rosemary Baa Torsu granted the prosecution without taking into consideration of the argument of both parties.
She remanded all 31 accused persons including a 19-year-old girl into BNI custody to re-appear on Monday October 13 at 9.00am.
She further ordered the police and BNI to grant access to the counsels for the accused persons and also ensure their welfare whiles in detention.
The Ghana Police Service has announced that it has taken possession of items such as weapons and vehicles stolen by members of the Western Togoland secessionist group who launched a simultaneous attack on the Aveyime and Mepe Police Stations as well as various parts of the Volta Region on Friday, September 25, 2020.
The armed men who attacked the police stations are reported to have broken into armories and made away with all the weapons in storage.
In some videos from the attacks sighted by GhanaWeb, some of the bandits are seen parading themselves in a police car which was stolen during their operation.
However, the Ghana Police Service, having launched a counter attack on Friday and having commenced investigations into the matter in an update on Monday, September 28, 2020, has said among other things it has retrieved the weapons and cars which were stolen by the group.
The police say it has also made fresh arrests of persons who are believed to have taken a key part in the attacks while some thirty-one persons it initially arrested have been provisionally charged and presented in court for allocation.
The police have indicated it has provided adequate security on the grounds in the affected areas as well as other parts of the country and added that life in the affected areas has returned to normalcy.
Meanwhile, the police noted that “the general public is being assured to remain calm as security agencies will continue to count on their assistance to arrest all perpetrators to face the law.â€
Read the update on the Western Togoland Attack issued by the Ghana Police Service below:
Update on “Western Togoland Attack”.
Security agencies wish to reiterate that adequate security is on the ground in the affected areas in the Volta, Oti and Eastern regions and all other parts of the country. Life has returned to normal as residents are going about their daily activities without fear of insecurity.
The vehicles, weapons and other items seized or stolen by the “elements†on Friday 25th September 2020 have also been retrieved.
Some persons believed to be key in the attack on the North Tong District Assembly, Police Stations and Officers have also been arrested and undergoing interrogation. The thirty-one (31) persons earlier arrested have provisionally been charged and presented in Court for allocation.
The general public is being assured to remain calm as security agencies will continue to count on their assistance to arrest all perpetrators to face the law.
Contrary to claims that government failed to gather actionable intelligence on the recent secessionist resurgence, Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah has said intelligence gathered by state agencies enabled a prevention of more dire attacks by the HSGF on Friday.
According to him, members of the Volta separatist, the Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF) have been on the watch list of the Security Agencies and were being monitored from time to time.
Addressing journalists at the Minister’s Press Briefing in Accra on Sunday, September 27, 2020, Mr Nkrumah noted that the government is taking steps to adequately deal with the threats from the separatist group.
“Government is taking steps to deal with threats of succession expressed by a group in the Volta region and in particular the events of Friday, September 25 2020. Now in recent months, the activities of this group have gained notoriety even as the government has been responding with appropriate force and the rule of law. The events on Friday morning have been as at now contained by the security agencies. Efforts are also underway to contain our standing threats from this group,†he said.
The HSGF, a group championing the secession of parts of Ghana along the border with Togo last Friday blocked roads and hoisted flags as parts of agitation for independence from Ghana.
However, reacting to the matter, the Minister condemned the act and called on all traditional, religious and political institutions to join hands to help combat the separatist activities even as government initiate measures to bring the situation under full control.
“We continue to encourage all well-meaning Ghanaians especially traditional religious and political groups to express solidarity with the Republic and join in the efforts of holding the One Nation agenda while condemning these unfortunate developments. Now while the security agencies maintain a presence to avert any further developments, it will also be important to in the coming days provide more education, for example on the false basis for which the persons who are leading these exercises sort to mobilize support.
“Key actors who have been identified as ultimately responsible for these events are also on the watch list of the security agencies and actually wanted at this point in time. In the coming days, the security agencies would I think be publishing some of the photographs and identities of persons who they are on a man for. Residents of these areas are encouraged to remain calm and to go about their daily lives without fear,†he added.
Security Agencies have identified financiers of the secessionist group in the Volta Region and will publish them in the coming days, this is according to the Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.
He made this known when he addressed the press Sunday covered by MyNewsGh.com on the development in the Volta region that took the country by surprise.
According to him, publishing the names of financiers of the secessionist group in the Volta region will help prevent further attacks from the group.
Contrary to claims that Ghanaian Intelligence Agencies failed, the Minister was of the view that their smartness led to a quick response and prevention of further attacks on some vital state properties planned by the group.
on the wee hours of Friday, September 27, some armed men reportedly attacked the Aveyime and Mepe Police Stations in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region.
They forcibly took over both stations simultaneously, overpowered the police officers on duty, broke into the armoury, and made away with all the weapons.
Information Minister Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah has said Government and security agencies have identified the sources of funding and key actors behind the Western Togoland secessionist group.
In view of that, he said, the security agencies had taken stringent measures to deal with it decisively and publish names of key actors on the watch list in the coming days, in order to forestall any future occurrence.
He said government considered the action by the group as purely criminal and infringement of the country’s laws and, would, therefore, prosecute them accordingly.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah announced this at a news conference in Accra on Sunday, to provide an update on the Homeland Study Group Foundation’s attack and road blockade of some major entry and exit points to the Volta Region, in the early hours of Friday, September 25.
The Minister refuted claims that the security agencies were not proactive to gather security intelligence about the group’s intended action, saying the security agencies “did well by securing critical state installations such as Akosombo and Akuse dams, Adomi Bridge and Ho Central Market which the group had targeted to blast.
The secessionist group attacked two police stations at Aveyime and Mepe, and seized 10 AK47 assault rifles after breaking into the police armoury.
They ransacked the police stations, released inmates in custody, physically assaulted and injured police officers. The group, subsequently, blocked major roads to the Region and burnt car tyres.
However, a joint police/military enforcement team rescued the police officers who were held hostage. The security agencies have so far arrested 31 members of the secessionist group, airlifted to Accra and in the custody of the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service were being interrogated.
One person died and several others injured during the exchange of fire between the security agencies and the secessionist group.
The Minister acknowledged the condemnation of the group’s action by the Council of State, National House of Chiefs and a section of the public and urged all well-meaning Ghanaians to rally behind the state in solidarity to prevent the whipping up of political or ethnic sentiments.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said the security agencies would prefer appropriate charges against them and arraign them before court for prosecution.
He also rubbished claims that the government was creating confusion in the opposition NDC party’s “stronghold” ahead of the December 7 Election and used it as the basis to deploy soldiers to the place to intimidate voters.
The Homeland Study Group Foundation in May 2019 declared independence for Western Togoland, saying that they were no more part of Ghana.
This led to the arrest of a 78-year old Charles Kormi Kudzordzi, aka “Papavi”, the Leader of the group and some other members of the group.
Some were later released, while others faced prosecution in different regions.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Concerned Citizens of Western Togoland Mr. Daniel Yevuga has posited that the successful attacks by the Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF) which occurred at dawn of Friday 25 September 2020 was attributed to spiritual forces.
Speaking exclusively on Rainbow Radio 87.5 Fm, Mr Yevuga noted that there have been reports that the attackers have been trained but â€so far as we are concerned as a group, we know that there have been no training in terms of securityâ€.
What he has observed he disclosed is that there is historical, background on Western Togoland since the era of their forefathers.
â€There are spiritually strong and there were no holding guns and cutlasses,†he added.
He insisted the attackers could be using spiritual strength to carry out their activities.
A group of armed men in the early hours of Friday forcibly took some police stations in the Volta Region, overpowered the police officers, broke into the armoury, and made away with all the weapons.
The group numbering about 50 reportedly made of locals from Mepe, Aveyime, Battor, and surrounding communities, were later chanting war songs and jubilating their successful operations.
Some 31 persons were arrested in the process but Daniel Yevuga says the arrest and prosecution will not solve the problem.
He, therefore, wants the government to come with them at the negotiation table to engage leaders of the groups.
He said the security services and the government should sit and engage the groups because they have reached a point of no return.
Secessionist group, Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF), grabbed the headlines in Ghana on Friday dawn after ceasing Juapong, a town in North Tongu District of the Volta Region.
The group also captured three personnel of the Ghana Police Service after attacking the Aveyime and Mepe Police Stations.
Roadblocks they have mounted at different parts of the town too have brought vehicular traffic to a halt in the area.
HSGF claims that Western Togoland was an independent state before it was forced to join Ghana after the 1956 plebiscite.
Per their demands, Volta and Oti regions, parts of Northern Region, North East region and Upper East Region will become part of a new Western Togoland state.
However, the ripples of the security situation in the Volta Region has been travelling beyond Ghana, grabbing the attention of some international media.
German state media, DW.com, captured the situation in Ghana with the headline: Ghana’s Western Togoland region declares sovereignty.
“An area of eastern Ghana has declared itself a sovereign state. The region known as Western Togoland has had secessionist attempts in the past,†the lede of the story reads.
Below is how the German state media covered the story on Friday, September 25, 2020.
Ghana’s Western Togoland region declares sovereignty
Armed men demanding the secession of Western Togoland from Ghana blockaded major entry points to the Volta region of Ghana on Friday morning.
Local sources say the group are holding three police officers hostage, including a District Commander, and attacked two police stations. Prior to the blockade, the group reportedly broke into an armory and stole weapons.
“This is a very serious situation because just few weeks ago we saw [what happened] when they mounted signs along the major roads welcoming people into the Western Togoland State,” a local resident told DW. “Blocking the roads with heaps of sand, burning tyres [and ] even holding security personnel hostage.”
About 12 hours before Friday’s dawn operation, the Western Togoland Restoration Front (WTRF) published photos of the graduation ceremony for around 500 personnel who underwent training for months in secret locations, raising questions over the effectiveness of security agencies in the region.
Seeking sovereignty
Ghana’s Western Togoland region is predominately wedged between Lake Volta and the Ghana-Togo border. Currently, a number of splinter groups are demanding the area be recognized as a sovereign state.
In a press release, the chairman of the WTRF, Togbe Yesu Kwabla Edudzi I, declared that efforts for consolidating statehoood, which began on 1 September 2020, were being put into practice.
The press release also claimed “roadblocks to assert its sovereignty are all over the Southern sector.”
The movement says it wants to force the Ghanaian government to join United Nations (UN) facilitated negotiations aiming to declare Western Togoland an independent state.
Ghanaian police have been ordered to “leave the region in 24 hours” and surrender weapons. Some radio stations appear to have been taken over by members of the WTRF. The group has demanded the release of prisoners currently being held in detention for secessionist activities.
Travelers urged to be cautious
Meanwhile, on Facebook, Ghanaian police have cautioned travellers to be aware of “security operations” in some communities in the Volta Region.
Local media have reported the minister of the affected Volta Region, Archibald Letsa, urged travelers to remain calm and allow security personnel to do their jobs.
A tumultuous past
The territory of Western Togoland was first colonized by Germany in 1884 and incorporated into the Togoland colony. After Germany’s defeat during the First World War, the colony of Togoland was divided between France and Britain as protectorates. The western part of Togoland became part of Britain’s Gold Coast colony, which became independent in 1957 to form modern-day Ghana. Togo gained independence from France in 1960.
Western Togoland is a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO). Four million people live in the region. In terms of language and culture, Western Togoland, especially the Volta region, has more in common with Togo. Locals in the region say they feel underrepresented by Ghanaian authorities.
A previous unsuccessful attempt to declare Western Togoland independent from Ghana took place in 2017. In March 2020, around 80 members of the separatist group were detained for protesting the arrest of seven leaders of the Homeland Study Group Foundation. The charges were later dropped.
When this Togoland issue started, some of us within the security space did not spare any moment or mince words, raising serious concerns about their activities and the existential threat they posed to the security of Ghana.
Unfortunately, over the past few years, they have become more audacious and brazen and we can only expect more. They are able to make strong political statements and control the narrative.
They seem to be succeeding in bullying the government into submission. They have succeeded in disrupting lives and holding the nation hostage. Soon, we might go beyond condemning their actions by asking them what their demands are. With a heavy heart, I predict they might start targeting critical infrastructure.
They have the capacity and geographical advantage (forest cover and international border) to engage in an assymetrical warfare that could be hard to win.
We ignored the early warning signs and thought this was all a joke. We arrest and release, re-arrest and release again. Despite the presence of intelligence officers, they have largely failed to gather actionable intel in real-time.
Going forward, the over 100 kilometer Accra Atimpoku Juapong stretch is very crucial and needs permanent detachment stationed within that enclave. The Adome bridge and the dam are high-value targets that we cannot trade-off.
Let us invest in human security because largely, these secessionists have some level of Community support.
Let us collaborate more effectively with Togolese authorities so the group doesnt engage in cross border activities and the trafficking of weapons to oil their seeming war machine.
Adib Saani Security Analyst/Executive Director Jatikay Centre for Human Security and Peace Building 0244985099
The Ghana Police Service has cautioned people travelling to the Volta Region and Eastern Region to be wary of the activities of separatist group, Homeland Study Foundation, also known as Western Togoland group.
According to reports reaching GhanaWeb, Friday, September 25, members of secessionist group have blocked major entries into the Volta Region. They are said to have executed their activities at dawn.
The group are said to have attacked a police station and disarmed some security personnel in the region.
Three people have also sustained gunshot wounds whiles motorists travelling along the route have been left stranded.
The Ghana Police Service has, therefore, cautioned people travelling the route to exercise caution since they are likely to experience traffic.
A statement posted on the verified account of the Ghana Police Service on Facebook said;
“Good morning Ghana, commuters to and from Accra – Ho – Aveyime – Adidome – Mepe – Akuse – Sogakope – Aflao are likely to experience traffic due to security operations within those areas. Anybody travelling on any of these roads should exercise caution.â€
Masterminds of the Western Togoland independence have issued a warning to the Ghana Police Service and the military to stay indoors till further notice or surrender peacefully to the Western Togoland Security forces.
This is coming after the people behind the Western Togoland agenda succeeded in blocking major roads leading to the Volta region-Kpong, Juapong and Sogakope-burning vehicle tyres and demonstrating for its independence this morning.
The statement pointed out that the restoration to Western Togoland statehood, under the leadership of Togbe Yesu Kwabla Edudzi I, is being consolidated.
As such Togbe Yesu is the Chairman of Western Togoland Restoration Front (WTRF), the political wing of the Western Togoland independence struggle.
“Roadblocks to assert its sovereignty are all over the Southern sector. Vehicular and passenger movements have come to a standstillâ€, the statement sighted by MyNewsGh.com which did not have a signatory said.
It continued saying “for how long? Until Ghana agrees to come to the negotiation table, with expected UNO facilitation. All political activities within the new State are banned with immediate effectâ€
The statement also emphasised that certain radio stations are temporarily designated Western Togoland (WTL) state radios till further notice, and all media houses within WTL are to focus their programming predominantly on WTL issues until further notice.
“All Ghanaian security forces are ordered out of WTL within 24 hours and MUST NOT to take any weapons or ammunitions along with them.
“All detainees of Western Togoland independence struggle are ordered released immediately and all court proceedings relating to that are ordered terminated with immediate effect,†it added.
Some armed men believed to be members of the Western Togoland secession group have reportedly attacked the Aveyime and Mepe Police Stations in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region.
A group of armed men in the early hours of Friday forcibly took over both stations simultaneously, overpowered the police officers, broke into the armoury, and made away with all the weapons.
“They naked the police officers on duty, took their weapons, and locked them in the cells before breaking into the armoury,†said an eye witness.
The group at Mepe after hoisting a Western Togoland flag joined their colleagues at the Aveyime Police Station, seized two police vehicles, and injured an officer.
Eye witnessed accounts detailed that one of the vehicles was driven away by the armed men.
The group numbering about 50 reportedly made of locals from Mepe, Aveyime, Battor, and surrounding communities, were later chanting war songs and jubilating their successful operations.Â
