22 picked up over Ho STC attack linked to secessionist group

At least 22 suspects have been picked up by security in relation to secessionist attacks at the Ho Intercity STC bus terminal.

The suspects were arrested after a joint police and military operation in the Volta Region on Thursday, October 1.

Commanding Officer of 66 Artillery Regiment, Colonel B.B Pantoah said they acted based on intelligence from the CID.

They have all been taken to the Volta Regional Headquarters of the Ghana Police Service.

“As soon as the CID alerted us, the joint team moved to the hotel to arrest them,” he revealed, according to reports by Joy FM.

About three separate groups have been championing a separation of part of the country to form the Western Togoland.

Those involved in Monday’s attack burnt down a bus and assaulted the drivers amidst firing of guns at the Intercity STC bus terminal.

The attack was the second in four days.

However, one of the groups, the Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF) disassociated itself from the attacks.  The HSGF was rather involved in the blocking of roads leading to the Volta and Oti regions, including Kpong-Akosombo, Juapong-Ho, Ho-Mepe, Sogakope-Accra.

They attacked two police stations at Aveyime and Mepe and seized ten AK-47 assault rifles after breaking into the police armoury.

They also ransacked the police stations, released inmates in custody, physically assaulted and injured police officers.

31 suspects have been granted bail after being slapped with charges for riots on Friday, September 25, in the Volta Region.

HSGF is led by Charles Kormi Kudzordzi, aka “Papavi, a 78-year-old man.

He spearheaded a declaration of independence for Western Togoland, saying they were no more part of Ghana, in May 2019.

He was arrested with some members of the group but later released.

Others have faced prosecution in different regions in the past but that has not deterred their activities.

President Nana Akufo-Addo has said that the activities of the illegal groups would be crashed.

“Institutions are in place, the security agencies are doing their work, they’ve started already, and we’ll see results.

“What’s happening in the Volta Region is just by a handful of people. These secessionists. We will deal with them. I have no doubt about it,” the President said in an interview on Wednesday.

“When the right measures are put in place, you can, not so much as sleep and be complacent, but at least you can be steady and face what is coming. 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 hard to make sure that this matter is dealt with as quickly as possible,” he added.