Rambo-style arrest of ‘Western Togoland’ separatists worrying – MP

Member of Parliament for South Dayi in the Volta Region, Hon. Rockson-Nelson E.K. Dafeamekpor has condemned in no uncertain terms, the arrest of an 80-year-old man and seven others of the Volta Separatist movement.

The separatist movement also known as the Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF), claims the Volta Region (Western Togoland) was an independent state before being made to join Ghana in a plebiscite.

They were reportedly picked up by National Security operatives during one of their usual meetings on Sunday in the Volta Region for planning to declare the region an independent one in Ho.

The leader of the group, Mr. Charles Kormi Kudzodzi, popularly known as Papa Hogbedetor and the other suspects who were flown to Accra in a helicopter from the 66 artillery regiment to an unknown destination have reportedly been charged with treason.

The members of the group have since demanded the immediate release of their leaders who were arrested.

State Must Act

But in a press release, Hon Dafeamekpor, whose constituency is in the Volta Region, believes the way the men were picked up was a “raw exercise of executive power” which, to him, is “ought not to be abused in the manner it was applied” on Sunday.

“It is understandable that the state would take steps to protect the sovereignty and sanctity of Ghana, and to take steps to ensure the safety and integrity of the nation, however, such conducts by the state in the exercise of its rights, must be done in accordance with laid down procedure anchored in law,” the Legislator said.

He said “a mere declaration of intention is no crime” and continued that “an intention by one to declare Volta Region a supposed independent state cannot constitute a crime.”

“Were they arrested in the act of doing so?” the private legal practitioner asked and went on to advise the government to “…engage the agitators, if indeed there are, with a team of scholars to deal with these issues once for all.”

“The choice of criminal prosecution is a horrible one. Persecution has never succeeded in quelling the agitations of a people determined to attain ‘self-rule’,” he added.

Below is his statement:

RAMBO-STYLE ARREST OF OCTOGENARIANS WORRYING; STATE MUST ACT TO RESTORE THEIR RIGHTS AS CITIZENS

It is with great regret that I condemn in no uncertain terms, the Rambo-style arrest of our compatriots including octogenarians in Ho, the Capital of the Volta Region on Sunday the 5th day of May 2019.

It is understandable that the state would take steps to protect the sovereignty and sanctity of Ghana, and to take steps to ensure the safety and integrity of the nation, however, such conducts by the state in the exercise of its rights, must be done in accordance with laid down procedure anchored in law.

Subversion is a serious crime so any allegations of same ought to be thoroughly investigated. However, the raw exercise of executive power ought not be abused in the manner it was applied in this matter on Sunday in Ho.

A mere declaration of intention is no crime. An intention by one to declare Volta Region a supposed independent state cannot constitute a crime. Were they arrested in the act of doing so? No. Indeed, several scholars including Emeritus Professor Amenumey and Hon. Kosi Kedem have written extensively on the trans Volta Togoland and Western Togoland union issues with the Gold Coast and raised fundamental historical, political, legal and jurisprudential issues underpinning the supposed union.

It’s a matter of record that these same people were arrested amidst state fanfare in 2017 and supposedly prosecuted in Ho High court. The State in its wisdom, discontinued the prosecutions in or about 2018.

It would be advisable for Gov’t to to engage the agitators, if indeed there are, with a team of scholars to deal with these issues once for all. The choice of criminal prosecution is a horrible one. Persecution has never succeeded in quelling the agitations of a people determined to attain ‘self-rule’.

It is regrettable that these senior citizens have been rounded up in the manner and whisked away from their homes in the Volta Region to unknown locations.

The state must recognise that these senior citizens, even if they decide not to submit to our courts, still maintain their liberties and rights as enshrined in the 1948 UN Charter on declaration Human Rights. Let proper due process be adhered to in this matter.

The government must, as a matter of urgency, act to put these senior citizens who are in its custody and control, to due process while restoring their rights and dignities.

Signed:

Rockson-Nelson E.K. Dafeamekpor

MP, South Dayi, Volta Region