In the run-up to the 2000 general election, I attended a seminar for the NPP parliamentary candidates at GIMPA and then NPP National Organiser Major Courage Quashigah addressing us, said in Ghana today, apart from the Akans, the most populous ethnic group is the Ewes who are ALL OVER IN GHANA.
We have lived TOGETHER with them since 1918 when the British took them over, but it is NOT FAIR to describe “Western Togoland” as predominantly. Ewes – no, not at all. In fact, to be honest, even those who voted for separation – KPANDU and HO – they are NOT predominantly Ewes – they are GUANS!!!!
Nobody should say EWES want to separate – that is NOT true. The Ewes heartland is KETA-ANLOGA and they did NOT take part in the plebiscite, they are as Ghanaians as anybody else.
All through the years, from 1957 to the present, we have INTER-MARRIED, we have CRISS-CROSSED Ghana, bought houses and landed properties, factories, industries et al. There are Ewes holding several positions of trust in all sphere of national life in the security services, financial institutions, and civil services all over.
Against this FACTUAL background, where from this latest development of the emergence of WESTERN TOGOLAND? Who is or who are behind it?
The perception is that some foreign companies envy the huge OIL find in the Keta Basin, and the discovery of URAMIUM in some parts of the Volta Region. If they can grab Akuse and Volta Dams alongside, and sponsor the creation of a new self-governing state – WESTERN TOGOLAND these foreign companies will rake in millions if not trillions of dollars.
Fortunately for them, NDC has always taken Volta Region for a ride, calling them NDC World Bank – supplying votes, and forgetting about them.
A certain queenmother in one of the villages in Volta Region cried openly one day that “you my people are always voting NDC, NDC, but look at how poor we are……go to any of the Ashanti villages and see……..”
I, myself, as Deputy Minister for Local Government, campaigning for Elizabeth Ohene as MP for Ho East – I told some villagers, WITHOUT mincing words, that you, the chiefs here assembled, always voting for NDC, but look at this village, no electricity, look at the access road, no development – why? All these years?
Later, Elizabeth Ohene told me she won in that village. But the point is that those in favour of separation are spreading propaganda that “we will be better off in our own country”!!!
Reader, have you been watching TV news? Do you ALWAYS see ship loads of MIGRANTS running away DAILY to EUROPE? In search of greener pastures? You know why?
BECAUSE EUROPE TODAY IS ONE ECONOMIC UNIT MADE UP OF 27 MEMBER COUNTRIES, USING ONE CURRENCY- THE EURO!!!
Take it from me – you can never survive as a nation if you are “small” you will be a poodle in the hands of huge foreign monopoly capital.
I was NOT surprised at all when I heard in the news that the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede, with sympathies to NDC, currently President of the National House of Chiefs, angrily CONDEMNED the separatists, agenda – why?
The man is a businessman!! He owns Africa World Airlines, operating in the small country Ghana. Oh, if Ghana were to be like Nigeria – with 46 states – his Africa World aircraft criss-crossing the airwaves!! You want Ho to separate from already small Ghana so that he takes his Africa World Airlines to where? Ho to Hohoe?
My classmate at Legon, Charles Hayibor, is a famous top lawyer with clients all over, defending chiefs. He is officially called TOGBE HUDU IX, Paramount Chief of Anfoega. You want to separate so that he loses all his clients?
What then is the way forward?
First and foremost, the chiefs in Volta Region who are NOT in favour of the so-called separatist moves MUST come out publically and DISOWN the separatists. Isolate them as a miserable minority hanging on untruths and concoctions. In fact, the reality is that the separatists do not even speak Ewe! Then who are they? Imported insurgents? Mercenaries, Boko Haram? If they are NOT even Ghanaians, they should be exposed!
As John Boadu, the NPP Chief Scribe, rightfully pointed out ALL the political parties, especially the NDC must come out boldly and DISOWN or DASSOCIATE themselves from this move. If NDC does not take care, the people on the ground will interpret the forthcoming elections as a vote for UNITED GHANA or SEPARATION, and that will spell the DOOM for NDC and John Mahama.
The NDC Caucus in Parliament, especially MPs from Volta Region, should openly condemn the separatists and tell the people that they NDC have the region at heart and that according to their manifesto they will make life better for them if voted into power… I have said it before on radio and I repeat that VIOLENCE is not the solution. If those leading the campaign are GENUINE and SERIOUS they should form a “National Front” with a clear agenda for separation and campaign openly, in the hope that, like Scotland or Catalonia in Spain, with time they will possibly get majority and then get their own German Togolese “Homeland”.
Attacking innocent policemen on duty at Akuse and Somanya – far away from the so-called ‘Homeland’ and erecting roadblocks and signboards will NOT solve the problem – if it is a problem.
I was a soldier, a Captain in IBN and 5BN, and I saw what WAR can do to a country – May Almighty God in His eternal mercy spare Ghana from any violent civil strife
I have been driving deep in the night from Accra to Hohoe High Court – if war breaks out I can’t do that anymore. What will happen to my clients in Hohoe?
May God bless our homeland, GHANA!
By Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey
(Lawyer and former MP)