Court Frees Two, Defers Four in Togoland Case

The High Court in Accra acquitted Warrant Officer Class 1 Samuel Yao Fiagbedzi and Richard Adri, alias Mumuni, discharging them of all charges related to ties with the Western Togoland Restoration Front and the Homeland Study Group Foundation after determining that the evidence presented was insufficient to prove membership.

The presiding judge ruled that a mere association with a WhatsApp group for Fiagbedzi and the receipt of a T-shirt for Adri did not establish active support or participation in the alleged separatist activities.

In contrast, the court directed four other defendants Ernest Dzitor, Prosper Avumenyi, Benjamin Kplevi, and Isaac Kwasi Afeku to begin their defence, citing prima facie evidence of their involvement based on admissions, possession of paraphernalia, and participation in activities linked to efforts aimed at establishing a breakaway state covering parts of Ghana’s Volta, Oti, Eastern, and Northern regions. The prosecution maintained that these individuals were connected to initiatives that recruited and trained youth through social media and in-person meetings.

This development underscores the judiciary’s commitment to upholding the principle that mere association cannot form the basis of a criminal conviction in politically sensitive cases. The measured approach taken by the court highlights the critical need for robust and direct evidence in prosecuting alleged separatist activities. Such a stance is essential for maintaining the integrity of the legal process and ensuring that prosecutions, particularly in cases with wide-reaching political implications, are both fair and thorough.