No political party behind Western Togoland disturbances – Nana Akomea
A member of the NPP Communications Team, Nana Akomea, has dismissed reports that secessionist groups in the Volta region are being backed by a major political party in the country.
According to Mr. Akomea, no political party in the country is in support of the activities of groups fighting for the Independence of the Western Togoland.
In an interview on Accra-based Starr FM, the Managing Director of the State Transport Corporation (STC) said not even the opposition NDC wants a breakaway state.
He said what is happening in the Volta Region is being orchestrated by some disgruntled individuals in the region.
“No party is behind the Western Togoland…I have told people that the NDC is not behind it because that’s their stronghold. Why would they want to do that? Because if they are, it will leave them in perpetual opposition. What we have in the Volta Region is a very tiny group of disgruntled people who want to give actions to their disgruntlement,” he said.
A secessionist group agitating for the creation of a new country, the Western Togoland, on September 28 attacked the State Transport Corporation (STC) in Ho, the Volta Regional capital.
The armed men reportedly assaulted drivers at the transport yard, set ablaze a bus, and vandalized another.
They also fired guns.
The attack was the second in four days.
In the earlier disturbance, they blocked roads leading to the Volta and Oti regions, including Kpong-Akosombo, Juapong-Ho, Ho-Mepe, Sogakope-Accra.
The separatists attacked two police stations at Aveyime and Mepe. They seized ten AK-47 assault rifles after breaking into the police armoury.
They ransacked the police stations, released inmates in custody, physically assaulted and injured police officers.
But speaking about the disturbances for the first time, President Akufo-Addo has assured that persons behind the violence would be dealt with.
“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.
He also defended his silence over the riots in the Volta Region arguing it was necessary to ensure the country did not panic in the face of the disturbances.
“If I panic, the country panics…There is no value for the country if I start making hysterical statements,” he said.
“That’s not the purpose of leadership. I am supposed to assure people that our country will work.”
The President believes, public statements by him on the situation in the North Tongu District will not resolve the problem, especially as he trusts the nation’s security apparatus to clamp down on the activities of the separatists.
“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 said.
The President added that “the security agencies are doing their work. They have started already, and we will see results”.