A third group of six individuals standing trial in connection with violent demonstration in the Volta Region in calling for the separation of the region from the rest of Ghana, have been handed a total of 13 and half years’imprisonment in hard labour.
The convicts who were members of the prohibited Western Togoland Restoration Front (WTRF), an offspring of Papavi’s Trans Volta Togoland Group, were yesterday handed the sentence by a High Curt in Accra, presided over Justice Mary Yanzuh.
The Judge in handing down the jail term described the activities of the group as embarrassing to Ghana and a disastrous act that should sends shivers to any law abiding citizen.
This bring to 17, the total number of people jailed for their involvement in the violent acts that include the burning of two STC buses in Ho and a raid on the Aveyime and Mepe police stations where guns, a police patrol vehicle and other items were stolen.
Some of the convicts were captured in videos present at the scene where the leadership of the prohibited group declared ‘independence’ of the Volta Region from Ghana and some were seen waving flags in jubilation.
The convicts are Gabriel Godfred Govina, Benjamin Gbadago, Cephas Zoddanu, Richard DogloAmetepe, Cosmos Havor aka TogbeAdzaklo and Vincent Ramsayer Atsu-Galey.
The court in sentencing them took into consideration the number of years the convicts had spent in custody, although some were on bail during the trial.
The court sentenced Gabriel Godfred Govina, a retired teacher to three years’ imprisonment in hard labour for his role and also fined him 300 penalty units (GH₵3,600), indefault he will spend additional three months in prison.
Benjamin Gbadago was sentenced to 24 months in prison and was also fined GH₵2,400, in default he will spend additional four months in prison.
Justice Yanzuh also sentenced Cephas Zoddanu to three years’ imprisonment in hard labour and also fined him GH₵2,400 and in default he will serve five more months in prison.
Again, Cosmos Havor was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment in hard labour and also fined him GH₵4,800 and in default he will spend additional four months in prison.
The court said given the age of the convict and the role he played, she was minded to hand him a harsher punishment but she considered his age (68) as a mitigating factor in handing the two-year jail term.
The court said given his age, Mr. Havor should have known better not to participate in such act, adding that his conduct was reprehensive and cowardly.
Vincent Ramsayer Atsu-Galey was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment in hard labour while Richard Doglo Ametepe was handed a 3-year jail term in hard labour and was also fined GH₵2,400, in default, he will serve additional three months in prison.
The convicts were charged with 17 counts made up of charges of attending meetings of a prohibited organisation, participation in a campaign of a prohibited organisation, making and receiving contributions for the benefit of a prohibited organisation, being a member of a prohibited organisation.
The prosecution’s facts state that the convicts were members of the Western Togoland Restoration Front who, on September 25, 2020, blocked the road at Juapong and Sogakope and set fire to two STC vehicles.
It said on the same day, the group of people also attacked the Aveyime and Mepe police stations respectively, freed the inmates in the cells, locked up the policemen on duty in the cells, took arms and ammunitions from the armoury of the police stations and bolted.
It indicated that investigations led to the arrest of the convicts who admitted being members of Western Togoland Restoration Front.
The prosecution stated that, they also admitted playing active roles in its organisation and activities, such as attendance of meetings, contribution of funds and the receipt of funds for the running of the organisation.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak