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General news for Monday, October 5, 2020
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
2020-10-05
Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has dispelled reports that the government has dropped the case against members of the Homeland Study Group Foundation who were allegedly working for the secession of the Volta region from Ghana.
There have been arguments that the government’s failure to prosecute and incarcerate these people last year resulted in new secessionist groups that have terrorized parts of the Volta region to pick up where their ancestors left off.
But addressing the issue on GhanaWeb’s Election Desk program, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah reiterated that the secessionists have not been out of place. He noted that the seven who were initially granted bail had to appear weekly.
“Eleven of the defendants, four are at large, the Ho Circuit Court granted bail to seven on May 6, 2020 and will be presented weekly. An arrest warrant has also been issued for the four fugitives.
“On October 7, 2020, the court was postponed until that date for the case to continue after handling the case.”
“So that this case has not been abandoned,” he revealed.
The Akufo-Addo government spokesman posited that since Ghanaians would want a speedy resolution of the case against secessionist groups, the wheels of justice are moving slowly because everyone should have their day in court according to democratic principles.
He also described the hearing dates of the various persons charged by the state because of their participation in the declaration of West Togoland as an independent state on May 9, 20I9.
He stated that the media is at the forefront of education when it comes to the prosecution of the case.
“The wheels of justice, no doubt, grind slowly, but grind; because everyone should have their day at court no matter how crazy they think the exercise they embark on.
“They should have their day in court, we are in a democracy, that is the country we are currently in,” he continued.
He also gave updates on the case against some people who were detained in Yendi in the North Region on December 27, 2019, noting that they are also in court.
In July 2019, the Attorney General dropped all charges against some nine members of the Homeland Study Group Foundation who were allegedly working for the secession of the Volta region of Ghana.
After appearing in court presided over by three judges, Winnifred Sarpong, a high-ranking state attorney, told the court that they had been ordered to drop the case against the nine.
The defendants faced charges of treason, complicity in an illicit assembly, and offensive conduct conducive to disturbing public order.
Bisa Akorli, 54, Kofi Dzereke, 39, Thompson Tsigbe, 58, Benjamin Agbadzada, 48, Agbenyega Akudzi, 54, Freemen Blikaku, 36, Nkpe Tsryiri Kudzo, 61, and Sergeant Samuel Kwabla Kpogli were released after the order of the Fiscal. General.
They were arrested by a combined team of police and military personnel in Ho on Sunday May 5 while holding a meeting to allegedly organize the declaration of West Togoland as an independent state on May 9, 20I9.
Fast forward to September 2020, another group of people claiming to seek secession from Ghana attacked a police station, seized police cars as well as other state institutions, and burned vehicles to record their discontent.
So far, 54 people have been arrested in connection with the recent attacks by secessionist groups in the North Tongu constituency and other areas of the Volta region.
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