Police arrest 81 members of Western Togoland independence ‘fighters

The Volta Regional Police Command on Wednesday arrested 81 members of the Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF), who allegedly planned to demonstrate against the arrest of their leaders.

The arrest was made in collaboration with the 66 Artillery Regiment of the Ghana Armed forces.

Leaders of the secessionist group who are calling for the independence of parts of Volta and Northern Regions were picked up on Sunday [5th May 2019] for planning to declare parts of the Volta and Northern Regions an independent state.

A statement released by Mr. Prince Dogbatse, Public Relations Officer of the Volta Regional Police Command, said the 81 persons, including women were being screened for further investigations.

The statement sighted by citinewsroom.com noted that 17 of the arrested individuals, were picked up in the house of the leader of the group, Charles Kormi Kudzordi who lives close to the 66 artillery regiment barracks.

54 of the people were also arrested aboard a bus entering Ho and the remaining 10 arrested at other entry points in and around the Ho municipality.

“The Volta Regional Police Command arrested 81 members of the Homeland Study Group Foundation [HSGF] for their involvement in an intended demonstration against the arrest of their leaders.”

“The suspects were arrested per the intelligence jointly gathered by the police and military at various entry points to the Ho municipality. 54 suspects were arrested aboard a bus whilst entering Ho from Aflao direction. 17 were arrested in the house of the leader of the group, Charles Kormi Kudzordi [Papavi Hogbedetor] near the 66 artillery regiment barracks and ten were also arrested at other entry points to [the] Ho municipality.”

The leaders of the group were arrested in the Volta Region, in a house near the 66 Artillery Regiment barracks for supposed final preparations towards the declaration of independence which was scheduled on Thursday [9th May 2019].

A source, close to the Group’s Executive Committee also said they had already written to the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the United Nations, the Peace Council and chiefs, and also invited “external media” to cover the event.