John Boadu, NPP General Secretary
The governing New Patriotic Party has cautioned political actors against attempts to seek political capital out of the actions of Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF), the group leading the secession of some part of Ghana to form the ‘Western Togoland’.
The NPP has also called on all political parties in the country to support efforts by the government, traditional and religious leaders to address the situation comprehensively.
Addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday, the General Secretary of the party, John Boadu, stated that “the usual tendency of political parties to attempt to make political capital out of every situation should be eschewed from this front”.
“What we need is a united response to the developments to demonstrate to the few troublemakers that we all will not condone any efforts by any persons to create tensions and insecurity in any part of our beautiful Republic,” Mr Boadu added.
Condemnation
The NPP accordingly condemned actions of the group, saying violence and attacks would not be an acceptable approach to advancing any argument in the Ghanaian democracy.
The party further noted that that such developments are shameful and unacceptable in any country, let alone a functioning democracy like Ghana that boasts of an enviable track record on the African continent.
“NPP…condemns the acts of violence, attempts to attack sensitive installations and the attacks on security agencies under the guise of a secession movement,” the Mr Boadu stated.
According to the NPP General Secretary, “the historical accounts show clearly that the claims being made by the proponents of this agenda have got their facts totally wrong in the first place.”
“Additionally, the geographic areas that the perpetrators seek to extend their activities to, in some cases, even fall outside the original areas that were involved in uniting with Ghana,” the party added.
Voices of reason
The call by the NPP follows similar calls made by some traditional leaders from the Volta Region.
Over the weekend, the President of the National House of Chiefs and the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, condemned the actions of the group.
The respected chiefs described their action as unfounded, and further called on all Ghanaians to support the government to nip this happening in the bud.
The Awoamefia of Anlo State, Torgbui Sri III, in a press statement on Sunday, also “condemned in no uncertain terms, the recent disturbances on the Accra-Aflao roads”, and reaffirmed the support of the chiefs and people of Anlo for the unity and sanctity of the sovereign state of Ghana.
“I wish to state categorically that the Anlo State, its chiefs and people do not associate nor approve of the actions of such people and firmly dissociate itself from their subversive actions,” he added.
Background
Members of the group on Friday September 25 blocked various roads in the Volta Region, resulting in a heavy vehicular gridlock in and out of the region. The group attacked two police stations in Aveyime and Mefe and overpowered the officers, seizing two police vehicles and also bolted with some ammunitions belonging to the Ghana Police Service, including at least 10 AK-47 assault rifle.
On Friday, about 31 members of the secessionist group were arrested by a joint police-military operation, retrieving some of the stolen ammunition.
The HSGF on November 16, last year, declared ‘independence’ for the territory they call ‘Western Togoland’.
Charles Kormi Kudzodzi, popularly known as Papavi, the leader of the separatists group, made the announcement for the separation of ‘Western Togoland’ from Ghana, after a meeting in the Volta regional capital, Ho.
Source: dailystatesman.com.gh/Kwasi Frimpong
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