Western Togoland separatists allegedly unveil defense forces

The Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF) has allegedly unveiled its defense force numbering about 2000 as it aims at weaning itself from Ghana to form an independent state.

The HSGF has declared the south-eastern parts of Ghana an independent state under the umbrella – Western Togoland. However, the Akufo-Addo government has rubbished the claim, assuring citizens the security agencies will crush the group since Ghana remains a sovereign state.

Over the weekend, DailyMailGH sources within the HSGF circles reveal that it has allegedly trained men and women to defend the new territory at an unknown location, backing it with pictures and videos. DailyMailGH was unable to verify the veracity of the pictures and videos obtained from the group.

According to insiders, there was a passing out ceremony for the forces on December 14 after they underwent some guerrilla warfare tactics among others.

The group is led by an 85-year-old retired educationist, Kormi Kudzodzi (aka Papavi Hogbedetor)

In mid-November, he declared that “from  midnight today November 16 2019 entering tomorrow, We’re now Western Togoland state.”

About 10 of their members are currently being tried for various offences. The suspects are to reappear on December 23, 2019. The 10 have been charged with treason felony.

Opposition to drag national security minister to Parliament

The Minority in Ghana’s Parliament is demanding that the Minister of National Security, Albert Kan Dapaah, be hauled before the House.

Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu, who is leading the charge wants the Minister to update the house on the current security status of the country.

According to the Minority Leader, such activities threaten the country’s stability and there is the need for the Minister to update Parliament on measures being taken to protect the nation’s sovereignty from such groups.

Background

In May, about 81 members of the separatist group were arrested for assembling for a protest over the arrest of seven leaders of the Homeland Study Group Foundation.

The Attorney General in July 2019 eventually withdrew all charges brought against the members of Homeland Study Group Foundation who were working for the secession of the Volta Region from Ghana.

The group claims that the area was an independent State before being made to join Ghana in the 1956 plebiscite.

The Government of Ghana in a statement slammed the group’s supposed declaration of ‘Western Togoland’ as an independent State.

“The Government of Ghana takes note of the activities of a group known as the Homeland Study Foundation, purporting to declare secession from Ghana, a statement signed by Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah read.

“Ghana remains a sovereign state which has not ceded any part of its territory to any person or group of persons”, the statement further indicated.

Source: dailymailgh.com