By: Beatrice Oppon
Four members of Western Togoland Restoration Front including its founder Michael Koku Kwabla Ametonu also known as Togbe Yesu Edudzie, have been sentenced to a total of 17 years in prison in hard labor. They were also fined 26,400 cedis in total and in default serve additional prison terms. The other convicts are Nene Kwaku Agblorm, WO1 Emmanuel Hayford Afedo and Lance Corporal Abednego Dzreke Mawuena.
The convicts are part of several others arrested in connection with the disturbances at Aveyime in the Volta Region on the dawn of September 25 2020.
Presiding Judge Justice Mary Yanzuh held that the state led a strong and cogent evidence to show that the Western Togoland Restoration Front is a prohibited organisation.
Justice Mary Yanzuh was of the opinion that per the evidence adduced, the group cannot be said to be harmless or a peaceful organisation of people which had nothing to do with secession from the country.
She also stated that available evidence showed that the convicted persons were executive members of Western Togoland and part of the plan to secede the Volta Region and part of the Oti region from Ghana.
The convicts were recruited into the Western Togoland Restoration Front, attended meetings, participated in the group’s campaign and also contributed to the cause of the group. The secessionist group hatched a plan to campaign and protest for the secession of the two regions by blocking roads leading to the Volta Region from Accra with sand and tyres burning.
On that day the convicts with other members of Western Togoland set their plans in motion and blocked the Aveyime road from Accra and also attacked the Aveyime and Mepe police stations.
They wielded guns and other weapons and used the same to overpower the policemen. They freed inmates from the cells, broke into the armoury of the stations and stole arms and ammunition including 13 AK 47 assault rifles, 2 pistols, 5 pump action guns, about 300 rounds of AK47 among others. They also stole a police patrol vehicle. The group also attacked the barracks and made away with monies and other items belonging to the residents.
A Police team was sent from Sogakokpe to restore calm at the two towns. When the team got to Aveyime, they were attacked by the secessionist group.
Some police officers were injured. The signboard of the Police Service was defaced by the group who further hanged and displayed what they claimed to be flags of Western Togoland amid jubilation and chanting of the word freedom. They also broke into the offices of the District Assembly and made away with some items.
The convicts were charged with attending meetings of a prohibited organisation, making contributions to the funds of a prohibited organisation, participating in the campaign of a prohibited organisation, and being a member of a prohibited organization.
