Some five Western Togoland Secessionists have been sentenced to five years in prison by an Accra High Court.
The convicts, who belong to the Homeland Study Group, Western Togoland, led an attack on the Aveyime and Mepe police station armoury in the Volta Region, where they stole several weapons and ammunition and a police patrol vehicle after they managed to overpower the police officers on duty.
Together, they were to answer to four charges — attending meetings of a prohibited organisation, making contributions to the funds of a prohibited organisation, participating in the campaign of a prohibited organisation and being a member of a prohibited organisation.
The first accused, Ebenezer Gblorkpor, was found guilty and convicted on three counts while the second accused person, Afetorgbor Kpogo, was found guilty and convicted for attending meetings of a prohibited organisation.
The third accused, Joseph Nyamewu, the fourth accused, Wisdom Kuvor, and the fifth accused, Israel Bessah Kpexor, were all found guilty and convicted on two counts.
Counsel for the accused persons, Andrew Kudzo Vortia, prayed the court take into consideration the number of days the accused persons have already spent in custody.
“They’ve spent 2 years and 7 months in custody. Youthfulness of convicts. They’re in the prime of their life, and all are below 35 years and have a lot of life to live,” he pleaded.
Assistant State Attorney Derrick Ackah, however, disagreed.
The prosecution prayed the court to give a harsher sentence which would deter other persons standing trial and harbouring plots of engaging in similar acts.
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.
After considering both submissions, presiding judge Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh sentenced the five persons to 5 years for each count of offence, with the sentencing expected to run concurrently.
Facts of the case
The Homeland Study Group (HSG) is an organisation 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 from Accra to the Volta Region.
On 25th 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 police officers, residents and their families.
A police team was sent from Sogakope 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 a 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.