Why Ghana Should Address the West Togoland Problem Now

Opinions on Thursday, October 22, 2020

Columnist: Samuel Adjei

2020-10-22

The ongoing secessionist movement led by the Western Togo Restoration Front (WTRF) in the Volta region of Ghana, although considered harmless by the country’s leaders, has the potential to sow the seeds of destabilization in the region for many years. .

If the methods they employ are crude and basic, the success of their calculated attacks on Ghana’s transportation system and regional police stations tells the trained eye that these secessionists have a motive and an opportunity and if they acquire substantial means, they could destabilize everything. region.

The secessionist narrative designed to feed on the feeling that western Togoland (Volta region) was an independent state at the time of the 1956 plebiscite can create lasting division and be a source of recurring conflict. At the present time, everyone’s attention is correctly focused on fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

Furthermore, the majority of Ghanaians are concentrated in the upcoming US presidential elections in November and the presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana in December.

With all of these issues competing for limited attention, this article seeks to present a clear and concise analysis of the seriousness of the situation, how the group is evolving, and the options available to Ghana to maintain stability.

Birth of the separatist group

When the Western Western Togo Restoration Front declared part of eastern Ghana as an independent state in September 2020, as a Ghanaian-born American, I watched the events in disbelief from afar. I was struck by the silent response and the completely nonchalant way Ghanaians reacted to that development.

In that statement, the secessionists declared their intention: they are a separatist insurgency seeking to divide part of Ghana to form a newly independent country. Therefore, security experts must take this simple but clear fact seriously when analyzing the situation in western Togo.

Although their size may be small now and their methods amateurish, Ghanaians will make a serious mistake if they laugh at the WTRF as a “joke.” It is quite possible, with everyone focused on COVID-19 and the elections, that these separatists can continue their series of attacks, make some progress against Ghana’s security forces, and spread their narrative.

The government should treat the WTRF at minimum as a national security risk and deal with the situation now before it becomes an existential threat.

Ghanaians should view success in this fight as the ability to maintain full sovereignty of the country while addressing the major needs of the population of the Volta region. This requires the government to act quickly and comprehensively. Ghana’s President Nana Akuffo Addo must be at the forefront of this effort. You are in the right position to present a single unifying message. The unity message will be successful if it is persuasive enough to dominate the narrative on social and traditional media.

With the Ghanaian police force already on the ground, their numbers must be strengthened to effectively lead the security arm of the counterinsurgency operation while being supported by the Ghanaian Armed Forces. The goal should be to protect people’s safety. Therefore, proper intelligence gathering will now help to separate members of the WTRF from the local population when legitimate force is used.

It is in Ghana’s interest to prevent the WTRF from establishing “no-go” areas. In addition, the police must monitor the region to protect the safety of the people. Also, any comprehensive approach should include some amnesty and reintegration terms offered to successionists.

Expected results

There are three possible outcomes for this separatist insurgency: a victory for the Ghanaian government, a victory for the separatists, or a negotiated settlement (a draw).

WTRF’s goal is to control people and resources in the Volta region. By attacking public facilities and police stations, they seek to destroy the government’s ability to provide public services and maintain security in the region. If innocent people are affected when the security forces go after WTRF, separatist propaganda will be fueled. They will spread those images through social networks to promote national and international condemnation of government forces.

On the other hand, if the government does not act and the separatists succeed in destabilizing the region, they will seek to present themselves to the local population as a viable alternative to an otherwise powerless or indifferent government.

A careful look at how the group has transformed over time provides another important perspective. Since 2017, the succession narrative has been in public dialogue. The group has organized along traditional tribal lines in the region under the leadership of Charles Kormi Kudzordzi. A political arm was formed to conduct a feasibility study on the potential to break away from Ghana.

Events in September 2020 show that the group’s military wing is now participating in an open insurgency. In their narrative, they emphasize a common history, tribe, and regional identity. They threw out the government of Ghana as an occupier. Furthermore, they claim to be recruiting and training people outside of the region. Finally, his leadership claims to have the support of external sources and is developing logistics pipelines.

However, the government can step in now and be successful. However, it will first be necessary to recognize this as a threat to national security and take the necessary action. The December elections remain the center of attention in the country now. However, the Ghanaian police service, which has participated in numerous United Nations peacekeeping operations, has the tactical ability to handle conflicts such as these. Furthermore, the professionalism, loyalty and political neutrality of the entire security apparatus create the necessary legitimacy to avoid destabilization in the Volta region.

The key to stability is early and decisive government action. Any protracted conflict will attract external support for the separatists, increasing violence and prolonging the conflict into a Biafra-style civil war.

Conflict situations

Historically, protracted conflicts devastate the local population. Ghana has been relatively peaceful in its recent history. Although there was a struggle for independence, Ghana’s experience was relatively peaceful compared to many African countries. Kenyans can remember the bloody fight between the Mau Mau and the British (1952-1956). Angolans remember the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) vs. Portugal (1961-1974).

Guinea-Bissau recalls the struggle for independence against Portugal (1963-1974). Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) and Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) against Rhodesia (1974-1980). Finally, Nigerians still remember the Biafra war.

Without a history of such protracted and destabilizing struggles, the average Ghanaian is cut off from the true impact of the West Togo secession movement. To keep the peace in Ghana, this insurgency must end. Ghana has come so far to fall into an armed conflict.

Way forward

The government must understand that this is a political struggle. Separatists seek to occupy parts of Ghana. As this is a political fight, it cannot be won with the security forces alone.

The government must have a coherent narrative on why Ghana’s sovereignty is important and what result they seek to achieve. Ghana is a strong country and can legitimately provide and protect the people of the Volta region.

But with a protracted conflict that can erode. It should be clear that the separatists do not have to defeat the Ghanaian security forces, they seek to destroy the political will of the government to act in that region.

The approach of the security forces must be based on the results that Ghana seeks to achieve. Two viable options are to destroy insurgent fighters and infrastructure or to establish security for the people of the region. A swift and effective government response will now lead to the decline of the WTRF and restore security to the region. If the government does not act now and a subsequent conflict arises, there is a possibility that it will last a long time.

Intelligence gathering is paramount in this state. This will allow the government to selectively go after separatists, avoid overreactions, isolate the local population, cut off WTRF support and supply systems.

Conclusion: a desirable result

As stated before, there are only three possible outcomes for the West Togo conflict: either the separatists will win a completely independent state, the separatists will obtain some form of negotiated settlement, or the government of Ghana will prevail and maintain sovereignty and security within. your existing borders. However, if the current conflict deteriorates into open hostilities, Ghanaians should expect several years, if not decades, of destruction.

Imagine the lives that would be lost and the destruction of peace, property and development during those years of prolonged conflict. Imagine again how this conflict could sow a deeper seed of discontent that never stops, but resurfaces time and again in the Volta region of Ghana.

A comprehensive approach by the government of Ghana focused on intelligence, a persuasive narrative and joint police-military operation could effectively resolve this conflict and maintain Ghana’s sovereignty. The time to act is now.