By: Beatrice Oppon
Five persons involved in disturbances in the Volta Region in 2020 have been sentenced to five years in prison in hard labour.
The convicts Ebenezer Gblorkpor, Afetorgbor Kpogo, Joseph Nyamewu, Wisdom Kuvor and Israel Bessah Kpexor are members of the Western Togoland Restoration Front which is an offshoot of Homeland Study Group founded by Michael Koku Kwabla.
Western Togoland was established with an objective to use force to secede the Volta and Oti Regions from Ghana to form a new state to be called Western Togoland.
Delivering her judgment Justice Mary Yanzuh said she considered the mitigation plea of the defence lawyer and the submission by the prosecution.
She said although the convicts are first time offenders and in their prime, the manner in which they committed the offence is an affront to the sovereignty of the state.
Beatrice Oppon reports that the convicts are part of several others arrested in connection with the disturbances at Aveyime on the dawn of September 25 2020.
They were recruited into the Western Togoland Restoration Front, attended meetings, participated in the group’s campaign and also contributed to the cause of the group to form a different state with the Oti and Volta regions.
The Secessionist Group hatched a plan to campaign and protest for the secession of the two regions by blocking roads leading to the Volta Region from Accra with sand and tyres burning.
On that day the convicts with other members of Western Togoland set their plans in motion and blocked the Aveyime road from Accra and also attacked the Aveyime and Mepe police stations.
They wielded guns and other weapons and used the same to overpower the policemen. They freed inmates from the cells, broke into the armoury of the stations and stole arms and ammunition including 13 AK 47 assault rifles, 2 pistols, 5 pump action guns, about 300 rounds of AK47 among others.
They also stole a Police patrol vehicle.
The group also attacked the barracks and made away with monies and other items belonging to the residents.
A Police team was sent from Sogakokpe to restore calm at the two towns. When the team got to Aveyime, they were attacked by the secessionist group. Some police officers were injured.
The sign board of the Police Service was defaced by the group who further hanged and displayed what they claimed to be flags of Western Togoland amid jubilation and chanting of the word freedom. They also broke into the offices of the District Assembly and made away with some items.
Lawyer for the convicts Andrew Vortia pleaded with the court to hand them a one day custodial sentence because they have spent close to three years in lawful custody. Justice Yanzuh, considering the premeditated actions of the convicts, handed them the maximum sentence of five years to serve as a deterrent.
The convicts were charged with 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 organization.