The recent disturbances by the Western Togoland Restoration Front (WTRF) and the Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF), separatist groups seeking secession from Ghana since March 2017 have become a matter of concern and must be dealt with decisively before the nation is plunged into a security crisis.
Clouds may not always mean rain but smoke is a sure sign of fire. These secessionist groups claim that Western Togoland was an independent state before it was forced to join Ghana after the 1956 plebiscite. They are therefore demanding that the Volta and Oti regions, parts of Northern region, North East and Upper East regions become part of the new Western Togoland state.
“For the past several years, I have been dismayed and alarmed by the bogus and unsubstantiated claims being peddled both in writing and declamation about the scope and import of the plebiscite that the United Nations Organization conducted in Togoland under the British Trusteeship in May, 1956. I have been persuaded to rejoin to stop this misinformation that could trigger some rather serious consequences”. Words of Emeritus Professor D. E. K Amenumey in his article published in September,2016.
The Brouhaha over Togoland Plebiscite; The historical fact.
According to Prof. Amenumey, there is no iota of truth in the claim that the decision of the UN following the plebiscite was time-bound and was to remain in force for fifty years. He further states that the demand and agitation for secession of all Ewe people of the Volta Region of Ghana and the Republic of Togo have no basis in law or fact.
The latest attacks on the Aveyime and Mepe police officers and stations, mounting road blocks on the Juapong- Accra and Sogakope – Accra main roads, destruction of police vehicles, seizure of weapons, the attempt to destroy strategic national assets and the burning of the State Transport Company (STC) bus are clear indications that these groups are serious about their stances.
Although the evidence shows that their claims are not accurate and hence their actions illegal and criminal, the continuous delay by the state to get this matter resolved amicably could cause some warlords and well-established terrorism groups in neighbouring countries to take advantage of this situation and plunge Ghana into a state of civil unrest.
Director, Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center (KAIPTC), Prof. Emmanuel Kwesi Aning says that the recent operation by Western Togoland Restoration Front is the most successful attack against a sovereign state in West Africa and the Sahel Saharan because of the geographical expanse of the attack from Juapong to Sogakope and all the other towns affected.
Prof. Aning is of the view that if these people could organize themselves to mount roadblocks, sing patriotic songs, set fire and dance for hours without a response from the state then it shows that our security intelligence was weak. Citing Burkina Faso as an example where similar attacks happened, it was very small but has now taken over 85 per cent of the country. He added that Cote D’ Ivoire would be going through a very dangerous election in October and Togo’s post-election is still very unstable. The director of KAIPTC believes that what has happened needs to be looked at carefully without any knee-jerk reaction.
The Government of Ghana’s silence and reactionary approach would only be justified if we do not see any more of such attacks on citizens and properties in any part of the country. These secessionist groups have gained notoriety because on the 7 occasions that they were arrested beginning from March, 2017 to date, they have always been asked to go and sin no more on the last 6 accounts and this has sent the impression that as a nation we are treating this matter with kid gloves.
One may appreciate that the Government does not want to divulge details on its security intelligence and take any forceful action that can increase tension considering that we are about two months to the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
Fortunately for the government, there is unanimous support from the chiefs, members of parliament in the Volta region and the whole nation for actions to be taken to bring a permanent end to this issue.
Although Colonel. Festus Aboagye (Rtd), a security expert believes that some amount of force must be applied to deal decisively with these secessionist groups because they are militarizing, he has called on the government to sit and dialogue with the leaders of these groups to prevent the seeming growth of this recalcitrant acts from escalating. Col. Aboagye is of the view that opening up the communication channels to listen to the concerns of the secessionist groups must not be ruled out.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) says Ghana is seen as an oasis of stability in a volatile West African sub-region. Therefore the recent attacks from all the secessionist groups should make us prove to the world that we are truly a peaceful and independent country.
All citizens should rally round the Ghanaian flag and spread the word that we are one big Ghana.
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Michael Sa-Ambo is a consummate writer who is passionate about development on the African continent. His area of interest is in current affairs, personal development and communication.
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