The agitating Volta separatist Group identified as Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSF) fighting for the independence of ‘Western Togoland’ on Friday dawn blocked some roads in the Eastern region leading to the Volta Region.
The group at 2am as gathered by DGN Online mounted barriers with concrete blocks at Akrade, Akuse Junction and Juapong, on the Accra -Ho road preventing vehicular movements.
They allegedly mounted huge signposts with the inscription ‘Welcome to Western Togoland’ at different entry points.
Thereafter, they burnt car tyres and fire gunshots.
The group last month mounted a giant signpost at Akuse and Somanya in the Lower Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo Municipalities in the Eastern Region with the inscription: “Welcome to Western Togoland, Stay Safe.”
For travellers heading towards Somanya from Accra, one of the posts had the inscription, “Welcome to Western Togoland” while the one at the other stretch of the road reads: “You are leaving Western Togo Land”.
The Police later stormed the scenes to remove the signposts.
However, on Friday morning, a joint military task force and Police quickly moved to the locations where the barriers were created and with the help of commuters removed the blocks from the roads.
The Asuogyaman District Chief Executive, Samuel Agyekum at the time of filing this report confirmed to DGN Online that, the alleged secessionists after embarking on the move and chanting that they are seeking independence fled from the areas.
He said the National Security has taken over the barriers as they are hunting for the Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSF).
Police Arrest
The group as gathered went ahead and broke into a police station in the Volta Region, stealing ammunitions.
They reportedly, arrested three Police Officers and assaulted them, as two are currently in a critical condition.
The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, on Joy News confirmed the incident and said that an operation is underway to free the Police Officers who are currently being held by the secessionist group.
He said that “It’s a critical security situation we’re dealing with right now. We’re coordinating activities of the security services,”
He assured that within an hour or two the “situation will be brought under control, adding that, efforts are underway to get them released,” he said in connection with the arrest of the three police officers.
Previous Arrest
In late May, Security forces arrested 14 persons suspected to be linked to separatists Homeland Study Group Foundation.
The 13 persons – 11 males and three females – were picked up at a meeting at Sovie in the Volta region.
Background
The group based in Ho, known as the Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSF), has been pushing for the secession of parts of Ghana along the border with Togo. These areas cover the Volta, Oti, Northern, North East and Upper East Regions of Ghana.
The group claims that the areas which formed this part of Ghana were an independent state before being made to join Ghana in a plebiscite in 1956.
The group further argued that by the dictates of the 1956 plebiscite, the terms were no longer binding on the parties, and that, even certain portions of present Ghana were not considered during the referendum.
To this end, the group claims the time has come to separate Western Togoland from Ghana and make it stand as an independent state.
The Leader of the group, an 86 year old Charles Kormi Kudzodzi, declared independence for the ‘Western Togoland’ territory on November 16, 2019, at a group meeting in Ho.
He has since been hiding following an order by the Ho District Court for his arrest and two others for the “unlawful independence declaration”.
As if this is not enough, the group had designed their own national currency, flag and composed their own national anthem.
In February 2020, 21 persons alleged to have been recruited to be enlisted into the Western Togoland army were arrested at a secret training camp at Kpevedui in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region.
FROM Daniel Bampoe, Juapong