They have since been convicted by the court presided over by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh after full trial and face sentencing on June 27, 2023.

The convicts – Kennedy Awuni, Kwame Tornyevidzi alias Abizibey, Raymond Yao Blu alias Captain, Edem Nukornu alias FBI Commander, Jerry Kpeglo and Sylvanus Sheshie, had pleaded not guilty to their respective charges and have been in lawful custody since.

They were variously charged for 19 counts comprising of counts of attending meetings of a prohibited organisation, one count of participation in a campaign of a prohibited organisation, three counts of making contributions for the benefit of a prohibited organisation, a count of accepting contributions for the benefit of a prohibited organisation, six counts of being a member of a prohibited organisation, stealing and unlawful training

On March 21, this year, a first set of five were each sentenced to five years in jail in hard labour after they were found guilty upon full trial, which lasted for over two years.

In court on Tuesday, June 20, exactly three months after, another set of six have been convicted.

The Criminal Division ‘3’ of the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh said prosecution was able to prove beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of the accused persons.

Family members of some of the accused persons were already sobbing before the case was eventually called.

Brief Facts

Per the brief facts of the case, officers of the National Security Council, based on intelligence gathered, embarked on an exercise to identify and arrest members of the Western Togoland Restoration Front, who, on September 25, 2020, blocked the road at Juapong and Sogakope and set fire to two STC vehicles.

It stated that, on same day, the group of people also attacked the Aveyime and Mepe Police Stations respectively, freed the inmates in the cells, locked up the policemen on duty in the cells, took arms and ammunitions from the armoury of the police stations and bolted.

It stated that, the WTRF is a splinter organisation from the Homeland Study Group Foundation, whose main objective is to secede from the Republic of Ghana.

The facts added that investigations led to the arrest of the accused persons who admitted being members of Western Togoland Restoration Front.

The prosecution stated that they also admitted playing active roles in its organisation and activities, such as attendance of meetings, contribution of funds and the receipt of funds for the running of the organisation.

Roles

The prosecution stated that, when a search was conducted in the room of the first accused person, Kennedy Awunyo, quantities of Western Togoland flags and stickers were found.

The first accused person also received and disbursed funds from the Western Togoland Restoration Front to ensure that the plans of the organisation materialised.

The second accused person, Kwame Tornyevidzi alias Abizibey, was found to have stolen one AK47 rifle at the Aveyime Police Station during the raid on September 25, 2020.

The facts stated that the third accused person, Raymond Yao Blu alias Captain, admitted participating in Western Togoland’s guerilla military training after which he was issued with a certificate.

It further stated that, when a search was conducted in the room of the third accused person, a Western Togoland membership card and an army guerilla training certificate in his name and with his picture embossed on it, were found.

Again, the third, fourth and sixth accused persons were also found to have contributed funds for the running of the Western Togoland Restoration Front.

But for the vigilance of the security agencies, the activities of the accused persons and others at large would have led to the disruption of the presidential and parliamentary elections on December 7, 2020 in the Volta and Oti regions respectively.

It stated that, after investigations, the accused persons were arraigned.

ALSO READ:

• 5 Western Togoland secessionists jailed

• Western Togoland leader Papavi laid to rest

The 88-year-old retired teacher, a historian, anthropologist, educationist, author, and a musician, was given a befitting burial by members of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana where he was a member, as well as relatives and people from all walks of life.

In a tribute, the children of the late freedom fighter described their father as someone who never quit at anything and “would push and fight until he saw results.”

“Daddy was a good educationist, very good composer, He has removed the barrier of fear before us,” the statement read.

The Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church also described the late educationist as an individual, who contributed to the growth of the Church, especially with his musical background.

Final funeral rites begun with a family wake-keeping at his residence in Ho on Thursday, October 27, which was preceded by a pre-burial service at the EP Church, Dela Parish on Friday, October 28, after which the body was conveyed to Xavi for another wake-keeping and later preceded by another burial service on Saturday at Xavi E. P. School Park before he was interred.

The late ‘Papavi Hogbedetor’ as he was popularly known, until his demise, sought to have the Volta Region and some other parts of the country, which he referred to as Western Togoland remain autonomous.

In November 2019, Papavi Hogbedetor declared the Volta region as an independent Western Togoland state at a public gathering held in Ho in the Volta Region.

He was later arrested on July 28, 2021, at his private residence in Ho and was subsequently granted a GH¢ 6000.00 bail by a Ho High Court on health grounds.

He was born on July 3, 1933, at Ave Afiafenyigba in the Akatsi North District of the Volta Region.

He had his elementary education at Xavi EP Primary School in 1939, at the age of six where he later moved to Avenorpeme for his L.A Middle School education in 1958 before joining the Ghana Education Service as a pupil teacher in 1963.

He got admission into Akatsi College of Education in 1972 and was later posted to Keta EP Middle School in 1976 after graduation.

He also specialised in music at the Specialist Training College at Winneba in 1978, where he studied music and finally became a music tutor at Keta Senior High School and other schools before retiring in the year 2000.

Tributes were read from his wife, HLSGF, Grandchildren, E. P. Church, among others.

He died at the St Paul’s Hospital at Akatsi in October last year, after a short illness.

Government officials, educationists, traditional rulers, and others amidst heavy security presence, were in attendance.

He left behind 40 grandchildren, a wife, and 13 children.

In view of this, there will be a pre-burial service at Dela E.P Church, Ho, Kpodzi at 9:30 am after which the mortal remains will be conveyed to his hometown, Xavi.

He will subsequently be laid in state at 7:30 pm and the body interred on Saturday, October 29, 2022.

A thanksgiving service will be held in his honour on October 30 and November 6, 2022, respectively at the Dela E.P Church.

The attire dedicated for the entire burial and funeral activities is Black and White.

The Octogenarian passed on on Friday night (October 15, 2021) at Akatsi in the Akatsi South Municipality of the Volta Region.

He was said to be receiving treatment at St Paul’s Hospital, Akatsi before his passing.

ALSO READ:

Donald Agumenu: Papavi’s death should serve as a national awakening

Akufo-Addo reacts to Western Togoland leader Papavi’s death

Mr Kudjordjie had said while alive that he will be disappointed in God if he is not allowed to see the secession of parts of Volta, Oti, and the eastern parts of the North to create the country called Western Togoland.

A vision he had been championing for years.

Below is the full details of the funeral:

A funeral invitation poster suggests that Papavi Hogbedetor, as he was popularly known, will be interred on Saturday, October 28, 2022. He will be interred at his Hometown, Xavi, near Akatsi in the Akatsi South Municipality of the Volta Region.

The funeral announcement comes a year after the Octogenarian died. Per the poster, Papavi died at age 88 on October 15, 2021.

The entire funeral will last for 18 days; starting from Thursday, October 27 to Sunday, November 13, 2022. Thursday, October 27 will be dedicated to a family wake-keeping at his residence in Ho, near the Barracks last stop at about 6:30 pm.

On Friday, October 28, there will be a pre-burial service at the Dela Cathedral E.P Church, Ho Kpodzi at 8:00 am.

Following this, the body will be conveyed to his hometown at Xavi, near Akatsi for interment. This will be followed by another wake-keeping at 7:00 pm in Xavi.

There will be another burial service on Saturday, October 29 at the Xavi E.P School Park at about 7:00 am followed by a Thanksgiving Service at the Xavi E.P Church on Sunday, October 30. There will be another Thanksgiving Service in Ho, at the Dela Cathedral E.P. Church, Ho Kpodzi on Sunday, November 13, 2022. The attire dedicated for the entire burial and funeral activities is Black and White.

The Octogenarian passed on on Friday night (October 15, 2021) at Akatsi in the Akatsi South Municipality of the Volta Region. Sources close to the family had said that the man, who was on bail, was receiving treatment at the St Paul’s Hospital, Akatsi before his passing.

Mr Kudjordjie had said while alive that he will be disappointed in God if he is not allowed to see the secession of parts of Volta, Oti, and the eastern parts of the North to create the country called Western Togoland. A vision he had been championing for years.

He started as a historian on several radio stations in the Volta Region under the HSGF, an organisation he set up years ago. With an increase in followership, he started to focus on an agenda for the secession of parts of the country along the country’s eastern borders to create a country called Western Togoland.

The agenda led to several splinter groups also championing similar agenda based on distorted history. Some youth believing the story staged some violent attacks in parts of the Volta Region in furtherance of the separatist’s agenda.

However, swift response and heightened security within the country and along the borders coiled the agenda as several arrests were made.

Papavi, as he is affectionately called, was born in April 1934. He was a retired educationist who taught as a teacher, worked with the Ghana Education Service, and retired at Kpando, his last post.

The arrest comes after the Denu Divisional Police Command received a tip-off that some heavily built men have been sighted in the house of a former Assemblyman for Denu, Francis Bedzo.

Police stormed the said house and arrested Torgbui Bokor Dotse Aba, 45 (spiritualist) from Tsiame, Isaac Norvinye Agbesi, 28 from Bator Zomayi and Avanyee Korku Godwin, 31 from Woe.

The other two are Delali Sampson Ayirebi, 35, from Hohoe and Awumey Sunday, 37, from Keta.

A sixth suspect, Raphael Zokpo, 20, from Tsiame however managed to escape during the arrest.

Police retrieved four locally made short guns with 200 BB cartridges in eight packs.

Police also allegedly found on the phone of suspect Isaac Norvinye Agbesi, pictures of him and others undergoing military training with weapons at an undisclosed area as well as an audio recording which he was heard announcing to his colleagues to attack police and other security agencies for weapons during the insurgence.

ALSO READ:

• Akufo-Addo reacts to Western Togoland leader Papavi’s death

• We’re not guilty – Western Togolanders

The Homeland Study Group wants the Volta, Oti, and parts of the Upper East Region to be made an autonomous country to be known as Western Togoland.

The group has made a number of attempts to push its agenda.  Last year, the group blocked some major roads that connect Volta Region to Ghana’s capital city, Accra.

Members of the separatist group even declared independence for the imaginary Western Togoland country on May 9, 2019.

In October 2020, the government of Ghana arraigned 78 of the alleged separatists suspected to be behind the violent attacks in the Volta Region.

They were charged, variously, with; treason felony, conspiracy to commit crime, namely, treason felony,  conspiracy to commit crime, namely, participating in a campaign of prohibited organization namely Western Togoland, conspiracy to commit crime, namely, causing unlawful damage.

Under an amended charge sheet, the State also told the Accra Circuit Court 2 that it had no jurisdiction to grant the suspects bail since the crimes were not committed within the authority area of the court.

The state subsequently withdrew charges against 60 of those arrested.

Other attacks by secessionists

The activities of the group sparked some other incidents in the region including a raid by some secessionists on the Aveyime and Mepe police stations which led to the release of cell inmates and the theft of 10 assault rifles.

Police officers were also injured in the ensuing confrontations, whilst two persons were killed.

Security personnel also said they foiled a plan by the group to burn down the Ho Central Market and other key installations.

The Homeland Study Group Foundation, however, denied any involvement in the violent incidents.

Its leader, the late Charles Kudzordzi, popularly known as Papavi, said his group had been pushing for a dialogue with the government of Ghana but to no avail.

Source: Citinewsroom

The country certainly has faced some challenging issues throughout the year.

Let’s take a look at the issues that made the headlines in 2021 on Adomonline.com:

Moment Carlos Ahenkorah snatched ballot sheets [Video]

The Member of Parliament (MP)-elect for Tema West, Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, snatched ballot sheets during the election to appoint a Speaker for the 8th Parliament.

After the counting of votes for Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, the MP-elect snatched the ballot papers from the Clerk and bolted with them.

Confirmed: Alban Bagbin is new Speaker of Parliament

Another news that got some Ghanaians contented was when one of the oldest serving MPs polled 138 votes against his predecessor’s 136 with one spoilt ballot.

Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Nadowli Kaleo, Alban Sumani Bagbin of the NDC was elected as the Speaker of the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic.

He won a chaotic, closely contested secret ballot in the Chamber of Parliament against former Speaker, Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye.

Anti-LGBTQ bill: Parliament to begin public hearing today

For the first time in the history of the country, Parliament was expected to sit for a controversial issue on the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill.

Over 140 memos were presented to the committee regarding the bill.

The bill, if passed, would criminalise Lesbianism, Gayism, Bisexual, Transgender and their related activities.

Achimota SHS allegedly denies two Rastafarians admission

Remember this issue which started after a father identified as Raswad Menkrabea alleged on his Facebook page that his son has been denied admission to Achimota School.

Describing it as a gross human right violation, he vowed to battle the situation out, adding that the dreadlocks did not cause any harm to the children to be denied admission.

Tyrone Iras Marghuy, the Rastafarian student, who was denied admission into Achimota School revealed that he wanted to win the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) for the school.

Tyrone said it has always been on his heart and he had good plans for the school, however, all of those feelings have been ruined by the admission saga that rocked him.

The message sparked a lot of attention after the Rastafarian council appealed to CHRAJ to put an end to the discrimination of their members suffering in public schools.

The two students, who were refused admission, later filed a suit at the Humans Rights Division of the Accra High Court.

The Human Rights Division of the High Court, presided over Justice Gifty Agyei Addo, ruled in favour of the two students on May 3rd and further ordered the school to admit the two Rastafarian students who were denied admission.

However, the school and Attorney General’s Department filed an appeal to challenge the High Court’s ruling. 

According to the school, the High Court erred by indicating that the rules and regulations of the school with regard to ensuring uniformity in appearance is unlawful and interferes with one’s religious rights.

The year 2021 also came with many surprises which brought the nation to its knees.

On Saturday, April 3, a 10-year-old Ishmael Mensah Abdallah was murdered at Kasoa by his two teenage friends.

One of the suspects was 18-year-old Nicholas Kini while the second suspect’s identity could not be revealed as Section 3 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2003 (ACT 653) prohibits anyone from revealing the identities of juvenile suspects.

Ishmael was killed for suspected ritual purposes a few hours before his birthday.

He was struck with the wooden handle and later hit with a cement block on the head, leading to his death.

The suspects confessed to the Police they initially wanted to kidnap Ishmael to demand ¢5,000 ransom from his family before killing him to get the needed body part for the spiritualist.

The Ofankor District Court has since charged the two teenagers with murder.

The Central Region Police Command later arrested a priestess allegedly involved in the murder of Ishmael at Amanase near Suhum and she was charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

Another topical issue in the year was the Ramadan fasting saga at Wesley Girls.

On April 26, an angry father, Ishmael Zakaria Alhassan, stormed the premises of the Cape Coast-based Girls school amidst threats to withdraw his child.

This was on the back of a report received from his daughter, Bushira Ishmael, that the school authorities stopped her and other Muslim students from partaking in the fast.

The matter became a national interest and gained prominence on social and traditional media and brought about calls for tolerance from several institutions.

Among those who expressed concern over the matter were Muslim MPs, Chief Imam, Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, and the Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC).

However, the Wesley Girls’ High School Old Girls’ Association (WGHS OGA) argued the school’s ‘No fasting’ policy was made for health reasons but not to discriminate against other faiths.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) intervened and directed the management and head of all schools to allow Muslim students to partake in the fast.

But it asked that parents of such wards are to write to the respective school relieving it of any obligation should such students suffer health complications.

Kissi Agyebeng nominated Special Prosecutor

Following Martin Amidu’s resignation in November 2020, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Godfred Dame, nominated private legal practitioner, Kissi Agyebeng to head the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

This was in a letter to President Akufo-Addo on April 16. The nomination was subsequently accepted by the President despite numerous criticisms.

The Minority, including Tamale South MP, Haruna Iddrisu and his predecessor, made several comments describing him as young, lacking the experience and credentials and not fit for purpose.

His predecessor indicated the nomination should be worrying to Ghanaians since it was meant to cover the tracks of persons implicated in the corruption risk assessment report of the Agyapa Royalties Transaction.

But during his vetting on July 22, 2021, Mr Agyebeng argued that age is just a number, adding that many influential persons, some he is older than, are key officeholders.

He noted he could not fathom why questions were being raised about his age and capacity when he has colleagues and juniors who occupy relatively higher positions.

Assault against Citi FM’s Caleb Kudah

A journalist with Accra-based Citi FM, Caleb Kudah was picked up by National Security operatives in May 2021.

The operatives stormed the premises of the Adabraka-based station to whisk away the journalist and another colleague, Zoe Abu-Baidoo.

He was arrested for filming a video at the premises of the National Security Ministry.

A development that stirred mixed reactions among Ghanaians amid backlash on the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) President, Affail Monney over comments made on the incident.

Mr Monney had faulted the journalist for breaching the GJA Code of Ethics in going to the premises of the National Security Ministry to film without the required permission.

However, a couple of days after this, Mr Monney issued an apology to Ghanaians and said he did not, at the time of granting the interview, have the full facts of the situation before commenting.

Death of TB Joshua

The news of the death of the founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Temitope Balogun (TB) Joshua shook the foundations of the world in June.

The renowned televangelist passed on on Saturday, June 5, 2021, aged 57 shortly after concluding a programme at his church.

Murder of Kaaka Macho

The murder of Ibrahim Mohammed, also known as Kaaka Macho, sparked chaos at Ejura, leading to the death of two others and six more sustaining gunshot wounds.

There are questions over why the social media activist, who spent time reporting the ills in his society and sought a change on social media platforms, especially Facebook, could become a target for murder in cold blood.

New media watchers wonder how the man whose activism receives little or no attention with limited reach on social media could become a target for making the ruling government unpopular.

It must be on record that the late Ibrahim Mohammed’s advocacy on social media received more attention after his death than the work he did whilst he was alive.

Several visits to his Facebook wall before his demise indicated his social activism series dubbed “What’s going on in Ejura” attracted maximum of two visitors or one in most cases during Facebook Live events.  

Earlier, police intelligence suggested Ibrahim Issaka and Fuseini Alhassan, ticket seller and butcher respectively were connected to the murder of the late Ibrahim Mohammed.

Rumours were rife at Ejura that the two men, known bodyguards of the MCE for the area, Salisu Mohammed Bamba, plotted the attack on the deceased.

Salisu Bamba has since denied the claim that the two are his bodyguards.

Rebecca Akufo-Addo refunds GH¢899,097.84 allowance

The First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, in July also refunded an amount of GH¢899,097.84 paid to her as an allowance from the year 2017 to date.

This was barely 48 hours after Mrs Akufo-Addo made public her decision following the controversies generated over recommendations by the Prof Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu-led Presidential Committee on Emoluments for Article 71 officeholders.

The First Lady described some of the reactions as distasteful and sought to portray her as “a venal, self-serving and self-centred woman” who is insensitive to the plight of Ghanaians.

Bribery allegations against Chief Justice Annin Yeboah

Another critical issue was bribery allegations made by one lawyer Kwasi Afrifa against the Chief Justice,  Kwasi Anin-Yeboah.

Mr Afrifa, among other things, claimed that the Chief Justice demanded US$5million from his client in order to pass a favourable verdict over a land issue.

The Chief Justice denied the accusation and asked the police to probe the matter.

However, the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability petitioned the President for Justice Anin-Yeboah’s possible removal over his alleged involvement in a $5 million bribery allegation.

The presidency assured steps had been initiated to determine whether Mr Anin-Yeboah should be removed or not.

But later, Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, in a statement said the request that Chief Justice Kwasi (CJ) Anin Yeboah should be suspended is premature.

Sputnik V brouhaha

The government’s quest to vaccinate 20 million adult population amid the coronavirus pandemic saw the Health Minister engaging a middleman Al-Maktoum to procure Sputnik V vaccines at a unit cost of $19 through which 20,000 doses have already been supplied.

The Tamale South MP and Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, argued that the contracts are in breach of Article 181 (5) of the constitution which requires such international transactions to secure parliamentary approval and thus must be halted immediately.

Mr Iddrisu also accused the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of letting the country down in what they described as fraudulent deals with a middleman.

The Minority filed a motion for a bi-partisan probe to be launched into the contract and was accepted by the Speaker.

When Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, appeared before the committee in July, he admitted he failed to seek parliamentary approval for the supply of Sputnik V vaccines through middleman Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum.

According to him, there was a desperate need to procure the vaccines at the peak of the pandemic, hence he invoked Executive Instrument 61, approved by Parliament for the contract with the United Arab Emirates royal.

However, he said his ministry had plans to submit the agreement to Parliament for the needed approval in accordance with Article 181 clause 5 of the 1992 constitution.

Takoradi Pregnant woman

In September, Takoradi also dominated the headlines over another suspected kidnapping case following that of the three girls in 2020.

A pregnant woman, Josephine Panyin Mensah, reportedly went missing after going for a routine dawn walk on Thursday, September 16, 2021.

Her husband, Paul Simon, reported the incident to the police and later said the mother had received a phone call from a suspected kidnapper who was demanding a ransom.

A search party was convened after her mother received a call from an unknown person who said they could not use her for what they intended.

After she was found on Tuesday, September 20, 2021, her husband said she told the family she gave birth the same day she was kidnapped.

But the entire issue later turned out to be a hoax.

The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, revealed preliminary medical investigation and examination indicated the woman, Josephine Simon, was not pregnant as reported.

Josephine is currently standing trial before the Takoradi Circuit Court, presided over by His Lordship Michael Ampadu, for alleging her pregnancy and kidnap.

Ama Benyiwah Doe passes on

Sad news of death hit the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as it lost former Member of Parliament (MP) for Gomoa West constituency and Central Regional Minister, Ama Benyiwa Doe.

She served as an MP from 1992 to 2004.

The NDC stalwart was laid to rest on December 18, 2021, at Gomoa Abora.

Dzifa Attivor’s death

Former Minister for Transport under the erstwhile Mahama administration, Dzifa Aku Attivor also died.

She passed on at the University of Ghana Medical Centre on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, after a short illness.

The former Minister for Transport was 65.

Madam Attivor was one of the leading members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Volta Region.

The politician and businesswoman was appointed Minister for Transport in 2013 by President John Mahama after he won the 2012 elections.

Dzifa Attivor was a Minister until her resignation in December 2015 due to a controversial bus re-branding contract.

Western Togoland leader Papavi reported dead

The demise of the leader of the separatist group in the Volta Region was another issue which was recognised by many in the country.

Charles Komi Kudzordzi, popularly known as ‘Papavi’, was reported to have died on Friday, October 15, at the Keta Government Hospital.

Before his death, Papavi and his group were demanding the secession of the erstwhile Western Togoland, which included parts of the Oti and Volta Regions as well as some parts of the North-East Region, from Ghana.

The President, Nana Akufo-Addo, when speaking with Accra-based Peace FM, described his death as a pity and he wouldn’t consider granting him a state burial.

Ken Ofori-Atta presents 2022 budget

The 2022 Budget has been the most debatable issue throughout the country after the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta presented the budget to Parliament on November 17, 2021.

The budget, which was touted as the most anticipated statement in recent history, raised several controversies between both the Majority and Minority caucuses in Parliament.

In a statement issued, the Minority group later outlined five conditions under which it will approve the 2022 Budget presented to Parliament by the Finance Minister.

However, Parliament rejected the 2022 Budget on November 26 following series of heated exchanges between the Minority and Majority groups.

The Majority, led by Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, staged a walkout after alleging ‘bias’ and ‘disrespect’ on the path of the Speaker, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin.

The decision was later reversed and passed by the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu and the Majority when the Speaker was out of the country.

The Speaker later advised the Finance Minister to present a revised version of the 2022 Budget to the House.

E-levy: MPs fight in Parliament again

Another serious issue which caused quite a stir in Parliament aside from the 2022 Budget was the E-levy bill.

Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, during a press conference, stated that the Minority caucus would remain resolute and determined to fight against the introduction of the e-Levy Bill to its logical conclusion.

According to him, the e-levy was insensitive to the plight of suffering Ghanaians and legitimate public opinion.

Consequently, it led to a fistfight by some MPs following the disagreement during the voting on the government’s E-levy bill.

The brawl ensued when the MPs were voting in a headcount to decide whether the E-levy bill should be accepted under a certificate of urgency or not.

Presidential jet: Okudzeto Ablakwa drops bombshell

The recent allegations about the President, Nana Akufo -Addo monopolising a blue and white luxury LX-DIO private jet since July stirred controversies across the country.

The MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, accused the President of chartering a luxurious aircraft during his recent foreign trips to the UK and Germany.

According to him, his trip to Atlanta cost the Ghanaian taxpayer a whopping US$14,000 per hour, 

The Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, who was summoned to Parliament, later justified the president’s decision to rent the aircraft and argued that the capacity of the presidential aircraft can no longer carry the president’s entourage.

Meanwhile, the Finance Minister couldn’t provide information concerning the cost as some members of the Majority claimed that the travel cost and other travel details of the President should be rendered top secret.

These were the top headliners for 2021 on adomonline.com. More news content, especially for you in 2022.

The convict, who had earlier pleaded not guilty, changed his plea to guilty when he appeared before the Kaneshie District Court to six counts of “deceit of court by personating contrary to section 215 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29)” and four counts of “unlawful practice as a lawyer contrary to section 9((1) and (2) of the Legal Profession Act 1960 (Act.32).”

He was, therefore, convicted on his own plea of guilty and sentenced to a fine of 250 penalty units (GHc3,000,00).

This was after his counsel Chris Akumey pleaded for mitigation to the court to say he is a first-time offender and prayed against custodial sentence.

Though the prosecutor, Detective Chief Inspector Amoah Richard prayed for the court to impose a punishment that will be deterrent enough to others who intend to venture into such criminal trade, the court acted otherwise.

The court, presided over by His Worship Isaac Oheneba Kuffour, sentenced the accused to a fine of 250 penalty units (3,000.00) in default 16 months imprisonment.

The case has been adjourned to December 22, 2021, for trial in respect of A2.

Brief Facts

The brief facts of the case as presented to the court by Detective Inspector Amoah were that Benson Dennis Seyram is a farmer whilst A2 is a lawyer.

According to him, during the month of September 2020, groups of people were arrested for various offences including treason felony and were arraigned before various courts including Circuit courts 2 and 4 as well as the Kaneshie District court ‘2’, Accra.

According to the prosecutor, in the course of the court processes, A1 and A2 represented some of the accused persons as lawyers and although A2 who is a lawyer knew that A1 is not a lawyer, he recruited him and provided him with lawyers’ gown and wig to practice with him in his law firm as a lawyer.

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• Alleged fake lawyer for Western Togoland suspects busted [Photo]

• Akufo-Addo reacts to Western Togoland leader Papavi’s death

However, the prosecutor said, “close observation and monitoring of A1 vis-a-vis his demeanour in court raised suspicions about his identity as a lawyer. Police began surveillance on him whenever he appeared before court.”

False representation

Detective Inspector Amoah said, on November 9, and November 18, 2020, A1 appeared before the Accra Circuit Court ‘2’ presided over by Her Honour Mrs Rosemary Baah Tosu and falsely represented some accused as a lawyer although he knew he was not a lawyer thereby personating and deceiving the court.

“On December 15, 2020, A1,” the prosecutor said, “again appeared before Accra Circuit Court ‘4’ presided over by His Honour Emmanuel M. Essandoh and falsely represented some accused as a lawyer.”

The prosecutor said, the accused on December 3, 2020, fully dressed in lawyers’ apparel which was supplied to him by A2 appeared as a lawyer in a court case number B1/19/21.

The case was titled Hope Mortey and 22 others at District Court ‘2’ Kaneshie presided over by Her Worship Ama Adomako Kwakye and falsely represented some of the accused as their counsel.

Judge’s probe

On December 17, 2020, the prosecutor said, with intent to obstruct justice and deceive the court once more, A1 dressed as a lawyer and falsely represented in the same case as counsel for some of the accused.

Chief Inspector Amoah said, during proceedings, the magistrate probed to ascertain the identity of A1 as a lawyer, but answers given by A1 in the course of the probe created more doubts than clarifications.

General Legal Council’s reply

He was therefore handed over to Police for further investigations and inquiries made at the General Legal Council of Ghana to authenticate the identity of A1 as a lawyer proved otherwise.

The prosecutor said the reply from the Legal Council indicated that the name of A1 was not found on the role of lawyers in Ghana and therefore confirmed unequivocally that he is not a lawyer.

He said A1 stated during interrogation by Police that, he practised as a lawyer with A2 as his senior and appeared before Ho High Court ‘1’ on November 30, 2020, where A2 introduced him accordingly as a lawyer.

“Further investigations were conducted to that effect and it was confirmed that indeed A2 on 30/11/2020 at Ho High ‘1’ did appear with Al who robed as a lawyer and introduced him accordingly to the presiding judge H/L Yaw Owoahene-Acheampong as a lawyer although he knew Al was not a lawyer.

“This act of Al encouraged and emboldened A2 to appear before various courts including Accra Circuit Courts ‘2’ and ‘4’ as well as Kaneshie District Court ‘2’.”

“After investigations, both were charged with their respective charges as stated on the charge sheet and arraigned before this honourable court,” he told the court.

The 33 elected assembly members, who could not take part in the election to confirm the MCE, have threatened to block the MCE’s office if the confirmation process is not reversed.

The aggrieved assembly members on Thursday demonstrated at Bibiani in the Western North Region.

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This follows a petition by the MP in which he cited the Greater Accra Regional Police Operations Commander ACP Isaac Kojo Asante and ACP Eric Winful, the Adentan/Abokobi Police Divisional Commander for contempt of Parliament.

But even before the House could make a determination on the petition, the Deputy Majority Leader, Alex Afenyo-Markin on a point of order asked the MP whether there was an official notification to the Speaker before the issue was brought up for consideration.

The Speaker, sensing an escalation of tempers, intervened and called the House to order in which he asked the MPs to rise above pettiness.

With calm setting in, the MP was given the floor to present his petition and narrated how he had fled home for fear of being arrested by the Police.

Mr Bagbin subsequently referred the matter to the Privileges Committee and warned he will not countenance any move to intimidate or belittle the country’s MPs.

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The gang of robbers, who were allegedly planning another robbery attack, opened fire on the police when they were closing in on them, leading to the death of Iddrisu and Dramani Iddi when the police fired back.

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The alleged notorious leader of the group, Ali Igudu, sustained gunshot wounds and is responding to treatment under a police guard.

The statement also noted that he is allegedly the mastermind behind the murder of one Alhaji Ousman Amdu and Fuseini Galagala among others.

Speaking to a local TV station, Japheth Mutinda said his agony began after he asked a Boda Boda rider to take him to his home after having a few drinks from a local bar.

He added that the rider had agreed to take him home for a Ksh50 fee.

Midway, Mutinda claimed that the rider refused to honour their initial agreement and now demanded double pay.

It is at this point that a disagreement ensued leading to the rider allegedly assaulting him.

“I had told the Boda Boda rider to take me home after having a few drinks at a bar. The rider, however, stopped midway demanding a double payment of the initial agreement which I could not afford at the moment. I asked him to allow me to pay the amount he needed the following day but he refused,” he narrated.

Mutinda claimed that the rider went ahead and reported him to the area’s assistant chief framing him for beating him up. The assistant chief in the company of police officers from Ngugani came to his home to arrest him following the report.

“During my arrest, the police asked me to give out a knife I used to threaten the Boda Boda rider.

“When I told them I don’t have a knife, they threatened me that if I couldn’t provide the alleged knife, they will take me to an unknown destination,” he added.

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He said that when they reached the Ngugani police station, the station’s police OCS started beating him while demanding him to issue the knife. He said the OCS and his fellow police officers beat him at the station while naked.

Mutinda claimed that it is during the beating that the police injured his private parts and his back.

The victim is currently receiving treatment at Mwingi Level IV Hospital as he calls upon the Independent Police Oversight Authority to investigate the matter and take stern action against the police officers who allegedly assaulted him.

Efforts to reach the police officers at the station to answer Mutinda’s allegations bore no fruits as their phone went unanswered.

The bomb was said to be one of the explosive materials planted at the place by the hoodlums during the deadly attack unleashed on the facility on Friday night.

Officers of the custodial centre were said to have discovered the bomb and they invited the Bomb Disposal Unit of the police whose officers came to carry out the detonation of the material.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Oyo State Command, Lanre Anjorin, confirmed the detonation of the bomb to our correspondent.

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He said there was no casualty as it was a controlled detonation.

The PRO said, “it is true that a bomb was detonated at the custodial centre in Oyo today ( Tuesday). But the bomb disposal unit of the police was responsible for the detonation of the material.

“Our officers discovered that there was an explosive planted outside the facility and the police were invited. So, no cause for alarm.”

Hoodlums had on Friday night invaded the prison with explosive devices and guns. They eventually pulled down parts of the facility and freed some inmates.

While some of the inmates, who escaped returned voluntarily, some others were re-arrested and brought back by security agents.

Abubakar was tried and found guilty on two counts of attempted murder and unlawful possession of firearms.

The charge read in part, “On April 9, 2019, at Aba Cotonou, Omu Ekiti, in the Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State, the defendant did attempt to murder one Chief Samuel Amaa and others. Found in his possession were a gun and cartridges on the same day.”

The police prosecutor, Taiwo Ajibulu, said the offences were contrary to and punishable under Section 320 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C16 Laws of Ekiti State, 2012, and Section 3 (1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act, Cap.R11, Vol.14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

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The prosecutor called four witnesses.

A witness, in his testimony before the court, said, “The defendant was challenged while grazing on the cassava farm; he was angry for being questioned. He pulled out his gun and fired at the people who challenged him, but they were fortunate it (the bullet) missed them.

“He was later overpowered by residents while trying to escape, following which he was handed over to the police.”

Exhibits tendered included a gun, live cartridges and statements among others.

The judge, Justice Adekunle Adeleye, in his verdict, stated, “The defendant is found guilty as charged. On count one, he is sentenced to life imprisonment, and 10 years imprisonment on count two.”

Dr Michael Kpessah-Whyte said the actions of the EC clearly indicated that there was a deliberate attempt to undermine the sovereign will of the citizenry in the bid to rig the election result in favour of a political party.

“I feel very traumatised by the experience of the strong room and the EC in the sense that for the first time in my life, I [saw] a blatant, dishonest deception and disregard for common sense displayed by the EC,” he said.

In an interview on Prime Morning on Wednesday, he said Jean Mensa, the EC Chair, tricked them into leaving the strong room to confer with Mr Mahama on some election-related issues only for her to declare the results in their absence.

“So for the EC to announce a result that invariably had to be changed several times clearly indicates that there was a deliberate, systematic decision to undermine the sovereign will of the people and steal their mandate and give it to somebody else,” he retorted.

The Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of African Studies claimed that the EC’s acts were suspicious as it ignored all the concerns raised by himself and Robert Mettle-Nunoo about the results they received from the Greater Accra and Bono East Regions.

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“Those issues were not resolved, and as we realised that the EC didn’t seem to be given any due attention to the concerns we were raising, my colleague [Rojo Mettle-Nunoo] and I agreed that we should go and have a conversation with the EC chair who had for all this while been very absent from the place where this was taking place,” he recounted.

Former President Mahama filed a petition at the Supreme Court to challenge the December 7, 2020, general election presidential results declared by the EC.

Out of the five witnesses the petitioner intended to call, he called only three; General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Dr Michael Kpessa Whyte and Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo.

The second and third witnesses, the NDC representatives at the strong room, were to testify about irregularities observed during the collation process.

Dr Kpessa-Whyte told Benjamin Akakpo on Wednesday, October 27, that he was not asked the relevant questions when he mounted the witness box.

“You have the situation where I could only speak to answer questions coming from the EC’s lawyers or lawyers of Nana Addo. To that extent, they were guided in what kinds of questions to ask, and my responses were based on the kinds of questions they asked.

“If it were done in the manner in which the 2012 election petition was done, I would have been able to provide greater clarity to Ghanaians on some of the things that occurred,” he indicated.

The Police unravelled that the true name of suspect Philip Chorkson is Francis Londiz.

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Also, a search conducted in their place of abode led to the retrieval of items including, Deep Freezers, Air Conditioners, TV Sets, 39 Gallons Of Engine Oil, Bags Of Rice, Tomato Paste, Electrical Cables, 2 Laptops, Boxes Of Nails, Gas Cylinders, Fake US Dollar Notes, New Head Pans, Frozen Fish & Chicken and other products in large quantities suspected to be proceeds of their fraudulent engagements.

The Police have extended an invitation from members of the general public, especially, persons who have fallen victim to such crime, to help identify the suspects and volunteer useful information to reveal the remaining aspects of fraudulent operations, perpetrated by the two suspects.

The information can be channeled through the Weija Divisional Police Command, the Accra Regional Police CID and the Police Public Affairs Unit, Accra.

The young job seekers anticipate their enlistment into the Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Prisons Service and the Ghana Immigration Service will end the long period of being unemployed.

The medical screening and documentation exercise is expected to end by the close of week. 

The unemployed youth, including university graduates, joined long queues at the various centres for their turns to undergo the screening exercise.

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One of the applicants, John Owusu, shared his experience. 

“I received a message on Saturday indicating I should report to Baba Yara Sports stadium today at exactly 6am. I got here around 5:45am.

“When I came here, there were about 500 of us here. So, I joined the queue from the AMASS gate to this place,” he said. 

According to Assistant Commissioner of Immigration (ACI) Charles Yaw Bediako of the Ghana Immigration Service, successful applicants will take an aptitude test on Saturday to complete the recruitment process. 

“The exercise will take take place from Monday through to Thursday. On Friday, we will break and they’ll write the aptitude test on Saturday.

“It’s been good so far. We’ve not had any problems. It’s the system we are using. It’s not only about looking at a person and telling them to leave. 

“We key everything into the system and no one can run over the system. They’re all here to go through the system,” he said. 

The Trading Economics global macro model has estimated Ghana’s unemployment rate will increase from 4.53% to 4.60% by the end of 2021. 

Moreover, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has revealed the public sector can no longer employ the youth to reduce Ghana’s unemployment rate. 

In spite of the revelation, some applicants are hopeful they will be recruited.

Yushaw Ahmed is one of the applicants who is hopeful of being recruited. 

 “We’re trying our luck. Because, the unemployment rate is just too much. So you shoot your shot, if it succeeds that’s it,” he said. 

According to him, the stuffing of ballot boxes in order to win elections cannot work in the current electoral dispensation, hence former President Mahama can go to court if he has any evidence.

“The EC is not perfect; I am saying that John Mahama is using the wrong route to force the EC, that is what I’m saying. If you are really focused, you said this and you petitioned this and the EC is not minding you. Go to where the EC will fear when the order is given or do you want to continue saying it is an attempt to say that the EC didn’t do his job? No, you are being reckless.

“If the EC is being irresponsible, go to the Supreme Court to make him responsible, that is my point,” Ben Ephson told Francis Abban on the Morning Starr Tuesday.

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The Electoral Commission has rejected claims by former President Mahama that the 2020 election was rigged in favour of President Akufo-Addo.

According to the commission, they are ready to welcome a police probe into the claims of Mr Mahama.

“The former President has said the EC thumb-printed one million ballot papers for the President of the Republic. This is untrue, and it is a great matter that undermines the credibility of the electoral system and should not be ignored.

“We see that our silence on this matter has dire consequences on public confidence in the Commission, and we want the police to investigate it,” Deputy Chairman of the EC in charge of Corporate Services, Dr Eric Bossman Asare said at a press conference on Monday.

Mr Mahama has described the 2020 polls as the worst election in Ghana’s history.

According to him, the election was marred by numerous irregularities which are unprecedented in the history of the country.

“The 2020 was Ghana’s worst election. If I was marking her, I would have given her an F. She is marking her own paper after the examination so she can give herself any mark she likes,” the former President, who was with the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress in the 2020 polls, told Cape FM during his ‘Thank you tour’.

According to him, this would finally end the overreliance of citizens on action and support from the Central government.

President Akufo-Addo, speaking at the orientation ceremony for newly appointed MMDCEs in Accra, stated that for them to be self-reliant, they would have to work hard to increase Internally Generated Funds (IGF) to support their own initiatives.

“You’d not make the progress you should if all your development programmes are solely dependent on the modest sums you get from the common fund allocation,” he said.

He called on the MMDCEs to transform the local economies they would preside over and implement programmes for growth and development.

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According to him, development projects instituted by his government have been targeted to the local economies of MMDCEs across the country; thus, it should be relatively easy to ensure job creation, growth and development.

“The local area is the target for all the programmes we set forth in 2017, programmes we continue to implement for the growth and transformation of the Ghanaian economy,” he said.

“Planting for Food and Jobs, $1 million One Constituency, One District One Factory, One Village One Dam and Agenda 111 policy initiatives like all the other innovative introductions to the economy are all very much local initiatives,” he added.

Meanwhile, the President sounded a word of caution to the MMDCEs to be fully invested in their localities in order not to be found wanting concerning development issues in their area.

“I’ll sound a note of caution here; all government initiatives at the local level come within your purview whether you initiated them or not. So the argument that you’re not aware of or are not responsible for government initiatives in your localities will not wash with me.

“You have to familiarize yourself with everything whether of your making or not. A chief executive who is indifferent or unaware of government activities in their area is not a suitable chief executive,” he said.

On Monday, the embattled senior police officer sought the court’s permission to grant him a 10-day request to travel to Kenya to act as a resource person at the Security Sector Reform Training in Nairobi.

The three-member panel of judges, presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, maintained that the bail condition does not support the defendant’s request.

Justice Hafisata Amaleboba and Justice Anthony Oppong also ruled out Dr Agordzo’s request.

According to the court, the nature of the alleged offence of Dr Agordzo and nine others demands him to be present in court during sittings.

Counsel for the applicant, Kormivi Dzotsi, holding a brief for lawyer Martin Kpebu appealed to the court to revise the bail terms which requires the applicant to report twice a week to the police.

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“We pray that the court exercises its discretion to grant A10 to travel outside the jurisdiction. This is particularly important because per A10’s affidavit he is willing to waive his right to allow the trial proceed in order not to delay the trial,” his lawyer argued.

According to Mr Dzotsi, the trial can proceed without the applicant. His lawyer, family, and wife will be present to monitor court proceedings and make ACP Agordzo available to the court if needed.

But Principal State Attorney, Winifred Sarpong, argued that considering the offence for which the accused has been brought to court, his presence cannot be ignored by the court for him to travel outside the country.

Opposing the application by the accused, she referenced Section 70 of Act 30 and noted that the offence in question is the highest offence of the land.

The state attorney contended that in this covid-19 era, international organizations are organizing programmes online and that the accused (ACP Agordzo) if indeed wants to attend the programme can do so online.

She further argued that the case before the court is not a misdemeanor and that his absence should not be accepted by the court.

The other nine accused persons in ACP Agordzo’s case are; Colonel Samuel Kodzo Gameli, Dr Frederick Mac-Palm, Donya Kafui, Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu, Johannes Zikpi, Corporal Seidu Abubakar, Lance Corporal Ali Solomon, Corporal Sylvester Akanpewon and Warrant Officer (II) Esther Saan Dekuwine.

All nine persons have pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit crime to wit, high treason, treason and abetment.

The incident is said to have occurred on Monday, October 25, 2021.

3news reports that the deceased was part of an inspection team of management members on a tour of the Accra-Nsawam rail line.

A witness told Connect FM that Mr Asante was standing in the outer frontage of the train when they saw a naked electric wire across the route around Pokuase.

The deceased then jumped off the moving train in an attempt to avoid being entangled by the wire but was run over, killing him on the spot.

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Following the news of his demise, social media has been inundated with tributes in his honour.

A group calling itself Young People of Cape Coast has reacted to President Nana Akufo-Addo’s apology to indigenes after claiming he never promised to build a harbour in the town in the run-up to the 2020 elections.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen Show Thursday, the leader of the group, Abeiku Adams, said the President’s gaffe cannot be described as a mistake but a deliberate attempt to avoid developmental works in the Central Region.

“What the President is doing is only a refusal to develop our area and complete abandoned projects in the Central Region. I think the statement by the President was intentional and not a mistake and so we can never agree,” he said.

He stated the people of Cape Coast will not accept the apology because the platform was not appropriate.

“He made the statement in Cape Coast and so we expect him to come back to Cape Coast and apologise and not sit in Accra and say he made a mistake, we are citizens and so he should treat us with respect because we will not listen to it,” he added.

He, therefore, urged the President to come to Cape Coast and sit down with chiefs and elders of Cape Coast and renegotiate on whether to do a full-blown seaport or a fishing harbour.

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“We are very reasonable people. President and his people should come to and think about the development of Cape Coast,” he demanded.

The president, while on his two-day tour of the Central Region, told Cape Coast-based Eagle FM on Monday, October 18, that a decision to build a harbour in Cape Coast was never a part of the list of promises tabled before him for his second term.

“The commitment was never to a harbour; it was to a landing site,” he said. “I never said I was going to build a harbour in Cape Coast. I said I was going to build a landing site like what I’ve done in these six other places in the Central Region. Cape Coast will also have its landing site, and the construction of that will start next year,” he said.

Justifying his statement, President Akufo-Addo referenced Page 88 of the New Patriotic Party’s 2020 Manifesto, dubbed Leadership of Service: Protecting our Progress, Transforming Ghana for All.

But speaking on Peace FM, Wednesday, October 21, 2021, he said presidents are humans and not supermen; because they make mistakes.

The President said this in an interview on Accra-based Peace FM when asked if the deceased will be given a state burial.

Amidst laughter, he answered: “It’s a pity but I am sure it’s nothing serious about him getting a state burial.”

Papavi is said to have died on Friday, October 15, at the Keta Government Hospital.

He was 88 years old.

Before his demise, Papavi and his group were demanding the secession of the erstwhile Western Togoland, which includes parts of the Oti and Volta Regions as well as some parts of the North-East Region, from Ghana.

He was subsequently arrested for treason together with some of his members but later granted bail due to old age and health issues.

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In September 2020, the leadership of the group organised a riot and blocked two major roads at Juapong, and attacked drivers at State Transport Corporation.

On September 25, the group dressed in Western Togoland T-shirts and armed with guns and cutlasses went amok and blocked roads. They burnt lorry tyres in the middle of the roads and prevented people from accessing them as well as raided police stations at Mepe, Aveyime and other parts of the Volta Region.

Mr Kudzordzi, aka Papavi, following the incident, called on the government to step up investigations to fish out persons behind recent attacks on state installations and personnel in the Volta Region.

About 31 people were earlier arrested and flown to the offices of the Bureau of National Investigations office in Accra for questioning about happenings in the region.

According to Mr Afaglo, the region is behind other regions because successive governments have failed to embark on developmental projects to improve the lives of the citizens.

He said the Volta Region is blessed with natural resources that could improve or better the lives of its people but various governments have not developed these resources to better their lots, hence the birth of Western Togoland.

Speaking to Myrepubliconline.com, Mr Afaglo said after the sad demise of one of the frontlines of the Western Togoland separatist, Mr Charles Kormi Kudjordji, popularly known as Papavi, some leading members of the group approached him to consider the proposal of becoming their President.

“After the demise of Papavi, three persons approached me with the proposal of considering to be the president of the Western Togoland which they said was the wish of a dying man (Papavie),” he recounted.

He mentioned the three persons as Akovie Ablade, one General and Kojo who said
the agenda of Western Togoland was to bring development based on the records set by the late father Tougbui Satsimadza Afari II.

“Based on your late father’s hard work in bringing development to Klikor and other nearby towns, we have investigated you and feel that you are the right person in teams of development and good leadership,” the people stated.

Mr Afaglo appealed to the New Patriotic Party government to listen to the cry of “my people to create employment in the Volta Region and open up our borders so the lives of the people can be back to normal.”

While we mourn with his family in these trying times, it is important we subject the activities of Mr Kudzodzi and his group to some critical scrutiny in the larger context of the administration and governance of the Ghanaian statehood towards maintaining peace, national cohesion, development, and sovereignty.

His activities should not only be seen from the point of dividing the country and distorting the stable peace we pride in as a nation. It should rather provoke and challenge leaders across all sectors of society to rethink and do some introspection of the journey so far from pre-colonial to colonial, through independence and post-independence epochs.

In my first encounters with Papavi about a decade ago, he sought to find out from me the position of President Jerry John Rawlings on the agitations of his group. I told him, he( Papavi) was dealing with an issue of serious national security ramifications.

I asked him if he would like to have an audience with the former President. He replied, saying he had tried several times without success. I confirmed he might have been dealing with the wrong contacts as the office of the former President was open to all and sundry.

I was very plain to him not to forget the nationalistic stands of JJ Rawlings. What was revealing as I gleaned from the actions and inactions of the late Mr. Kudzodzi was a determined soul in search of justice. A quest that must be properly defined and catapulted into how we handle the future of all Ghanaians who might be agitated for one cause or the other and needed redress. It is also important to underscore the need for deepening the understanding of WHAT MADE US GHANA to every citizen of the land and the entire world.

Unification movements that began in the days of Adam just like the quest for independence [be it oppressive or free] should be recognised as an intrinsic value of humanity. That was what I saw in Papavi Hogbedetor.

We should not be seen to be jubilating over his passage as if an enemy of the state has fallen but rather adopt some sobriety and reach out to his followers and all others with secessionist agitations to reorganize their thoughts and propagate the message of national cohesion that the territory Ghana should be entrenched and protected by all.

This should go along with deliberate policies to distribute welfare equitably as well as state machinery deployed to harness fairly both natural and human capital resources.

I urge his followers to remain calm and honour him with a legacy of peace, not conflict. May he rest in peace!

***

Dr Donald Agumenu is a Certified Professional Trainer, leadership and management Consultant, Certified Programme Planner, the President of Direct Leadership Institute and the CEO, International Association for People and Performance Development, IAPPD in charge of Africa (48 Countries).

Charles Komi Kudzordzi, popularly known as Papavi, is said to have died on Friday, October 15, at the Keta Government Hospital.

He is believed to be 88 years old.

Before his demise, Papavi and his group were demanding the secession of the erstwhile Western Togoland, which includes parts of the Oti and Volta regions as well as some parts of the North-East Region, from Ghana.

He was subsequently arrested for treason together with some of his members but later granted bail due to old age and health issues.

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This was the second time members of the group had been arrested in a similar fashion.

According to the police, it gathered sufficient evidence including a constitution, national emblem and anthem prepared by the eight arrested persons and others for their supposed new country.

Charles Komi Kudzordzi’s trial had since been adjourned to October 22, 2021.

The late Papavi was not heard or seen in public until his demise last Friday.

Western Togoland brouhaha

In September 2020, the leadership of the group organised a riot and blocked two major roads at Juapong and attacked drivers at State Transport Corporation.

On September 25, the group dressed in Western Togoland T-shirts and armed with guns and cutlasses, went amok and blocked roads. They burnt lorry tyres in the middle of the roads and prevented people from accessing it as well as raided police stations at Mepe, Aveyime and other parts of the Volta region.

Mr Kudzordzi, aka Papavi, following the incident called on government to step up investigations to fish out persons behind recent attacks on state installations and personnel in the Volta Region.

About 31 people were earlier arrested and flown to the offices of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) office in Accra for questioning about happenings in the region.

Later, news broke that a total of about 51 alleged secessionists were arrested for their involvement in the riot. But in November, 22 out of the 51 alleged secessionists were discharged by an Accra Circuit Court.

Nene Kwaku Agblorm II aka Joshua Tawiah Agblorm, a traditional ruler, and 28 others were charged with conspiracy, Treason felony, to participate in a campaign of a prohibited organisation namely, Western Togoland, conspiracy to cause unlawful damage, rioting with weapons, and causing unlawful damage.

The accused include Ernest Kpevu, Devine Seddoh, Bright Klutse, Salasi Gbagagbo, Gilbert Nyazinyo, Benjamin Gbagagbo, Felix Sosa, Lawrance Nyaziyor, Excel Liberty Aheto, Kuegbe Sika, Devine Nyazinyo, and Godwin Awudza.

The rest are William Amenyor, Agbemayah Dotse, Louis Nyazinyo, Mawulolor Ahorgble,  Fiave Joeffery, George Akuweti, Noah Ahiatorga, Samuel Gbolomo, Raphael Tetevi, James Nanewortor,  Abednego Dzreke Mawuenya, Emmanuel Hayford Afedor, Isaac Kwesi Afeku, Richard Adri, Prosper Avumenyi, John Kobla Gbedemah and Stephen Asime.

But the prosecution’s case was that Charles Kormi Kudzordzi popularly known as Papavi is the leader who had trained about 200 youth to take up arms to fight for their struggle.

Prosecution led by Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Sylvester Asare had informed the court of the amended facts sheet and charges.

ASP Asare did not give reasons as to why the 22 persons were discharged.

Nene Kwaku Agblorm II aka Joshua Tawiah Agblorm, a traditional ruler, and 28 others have now been charged with conspiracy, Treason felony, to participate in a campaign of a prohibited organisation namely Western Togoland, conspiracy to cause unlawful damage, rioting with weapons, and causing unlawful damage.

The court did not take their pleas. They have been remanded to reappear on November 18.

Various lawyers were happy some of the accused persons had been discharged but were worried that the police might re-arrest the accused.

Mr Theophilus Donkor who represented some of the accused persons prayed for bail saying the accused have fixed place of abodes and he believed the police have completed their investigations.

The accused include Ernest Kpevu, Devine Seddoh, Bright Klutse, Salasi Gbagagbo, Gilbert Nyazinyo, Benjamin Gbagagbo, Felix Sosa, Lawrance Nyaziyor, Excel Liberty Aheto, Kuegbe Sika, Devine Nyazinyo, and Godwin Awudza.

The rest are William Amenyor,Agbemayah Dotse, Louis Nyazinyo, Mawulolor Ahorgble, Fiave Joeffery, George Akuweti, Noah Ahiatorga, Samuel Gbolomo, Raphael Tetevi, James Nanewortor, Abednego Dzreke Mawuenya, Emmanuel Hayford Afedor, Isaac Kwesi Afeku, Richard Adri, Prosper Avumenyi, John Kobla Gbedemah and Stephen Asime.

Prosecution’s case is that Charles Kormi Kudzordzi popularly known as Papavi is the accused person leader who had trained about 200 youth to take up arms to fight for their struggle.

As a result, the group has been moving from one place to the other and their leaders have been meeting illegally at Afefe, Mepe, Juapong, Nyatekpo, Aveyime, and other towns to achieve their aim.

Prosecution said Agblorm and Lawrence, are active members and they are also national executive members of the Western Togoland Foundation. Sosa was an active member who was mandated to educate and enroll more members from the Northern Territory especially Ewes.

Prosecution’s said Kpevu denied supplying them with arms but admitted providing with funds to enhance their activities.

In September this year, the leadership of the group organised a riot and blocked two major roads at Juapong and attacked drivers at State Transport Corporation.

On September 25, this year, accused persons dressed In Western Togoland T-shirts armed with guns and cutlasses, went amok and blocked roads.

The accused burnt lorry tyres in the middle of the roads and prevented people from accessing it.

Prosecution said the accused displayed their flags amidst chanting ” We want freedom”, and they also engaged the Military in a fierce gun battle.

Accused were, however, overpowered and arrested while others escaped.

On September 29, Afeku and Adri in the company of others at large demanded for the ignition of some of the buses at the STC terminal but they were denied.

Accused then set ablaze two buses at the STC terminal and went into hiding. Police intelligence led to the arrest of the accused at their hideout.

“National security operatives linked the recent attacks in the Volta Region to the Lapaz branch of the group,” as contained in the facts presented at the Accra Circuit Court on Monday.

The secessionist group attacked Intercity STC bus station in Ho, in September this year.

They were said to have set the minibus ablaze in the operation which reportedly happened between 1:am and 2:am on September 29.

The group responsible for the attack was allegedly financed by the Lapaz branch.

The alleged financier of the Western Togoland branch of Lapaz, Dr Nathaniel Acolatse, was in court and his legal counsel applied for bail.

The alleged organiser of the Lapaz branch, Samuel Kasraku, was also in court and both were granted bail to the sum of GH¢100,000 with two sureties each. 

The court, presided over by Emmanuel Marvin Essandoh, directed that the sureties must be public servants earning not less than GH¢2,000.

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• Western Togoland separatist group breaks silence on Ho STC attacks

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Dr Acolatse is a clinician at the Amasaman Government Hospital.

According to the facts of the case read by Detective Frederick Sarpoong, the 45-year-old Dr Acolaste hails from Kedzi, a town in Keta while 43-year-old Kasraku is from Vakpo in the Kpando Municipality of the Volta region.

Both are believed to be staunch promoters and advocates of the prohibited group, Western Togoland.

The two have been charged with abetment of crime namely, participating in a prohibited organisation. Charges they have pleaded not guilty to.

Dr Acolaste, according to prosecution, finances the group in the area of medical supplies. For the effective provision of the supplies to the group, prosecutors said he quit his role at the National Health Insurance office to be a clinician at the Amasaman hospital.

Kasraku, the prosecution, said is the organiser of the Lapaz branch of the group where the members seldom meet.

Meanwhile, two other persons, Solomon Doh and Togbe Yesu, who are alleged to be part of the group, are all at large.

The police are on a chase to find the other suspects. The case has been adjourned to November 9, 2020.

The stunning female vocalist broke the news on her Instagram page and gave out details on when the song will be released.

She said the new single, which will be released on Wednesday, also features one United Kingdom singer, Nana Rogues.

She wrote:

I’m so excited to finally be releasing ‘More of You’ with @stonebwoyb and @NanaRogues as my next single! It will be released Wednesday with video at 8:pm. Can’t wait!

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Meanwhile, Stonebwoy has equally shared a post to alert his fans on his latest feature.

Check out the post below:

The “fantastic” nature of the promises, he said, has affected the implementation of most of them as the expectations of Ghanaians were high regarding outcomes.

Mr Mahama made the points in an exclusive interview with Adom FM and TV presenters, Philip Osei Bonsu, Chief Jerry Forson and Omanhnene Kwabena Asante, Monday morning.

Mr Mahama has, among other comments on his successor’s performance so far, also described the government’s ‘One Million per Constituency‘ policy a flop.

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He said most of the projects under the policy were already being implemented by the District Assemblies.

“They are taking the people’s money for recycling and giving it back to them and I don’t think some of these projects are what the people really want,” he said.

Watch the attached video for more of Mr Mahama’s comments.

The group sent the message via video.

In the video, masked gun-wielding men wearing black shirts on dark-green trousers are seen standing in formation behind their secessionist flag.

A male voice is heard giving a detailed account of their mission and purpose.

The group said it has 4,300 men trained in a neighbouring country to invade parts of the Volta Region to claim their motherland.

“About 4,300 Dragons are trained in a nearby country; they’re ready to enter into their motherland, Western Togoland. They’re not rebels, they’re not militants. They’re well-, fully-trained soldiers, so, nobody should be afraid of them. They’re coming to deliver their motherland, Togoland,” the male commanding voice is heard saying.

He continued: “They’re the ones who will rescue their motherland from the hands of the slave masters.

“They’ve been a slave to the Gold Coast, Ghana for years; they are not militants. What’s annoying them is that the people of Gold Coast, Ghana, are arresting their people for no reason. They’re shooting people and several people have been injured. About 4,000-plus persons have been trained in another country to rescue their motherland,” the voice said.

The group further appealed to the chiefs and leaders of the various communities in the Volta Region, not to be deceived by anyone who offers them money, in cedis or naira, to work against their mission.

“Those of you chiefs claiming not to be part of this movement, when the independence comes, can you endure it? The Dragons are coming”, the tape said.

The group added: “We’re giving you, John Peter Amewu, Archibald Letsa Yao, Okudzeto Ablakwa, prior notice. The Dragons, together with Gorillas, will enter the land after 21 days to claim the state. The Gorillas, together with Dragons, are merging to deliver their motherland, Western Togoland.”

Class News’ Volta regional correspondent, Albert Kuzor, reported that armed security personnel are on guard at the various government institutions in the region, including the ministries, STC yard and the market.

The army personnel were deployed to the region after some recent violent separatist activities.

About a week ago, the leader of secessionist group Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF), Charles Kormi Kudzordzi, popularly known as Papavi, released a video message denying any involvement whatsoever of the group in the recent violence staged by people purporting to be Western Togolanders.

In their first attack on Friday, September 25, 2020, the secessionists seized two police stations, took the officers hostage and stole weapons from the armouries after blocking entry and exit points in the Volta Region.

Subsequently, they torched two buses at the Ho STC yard on Tuesday, September 29, 2020.

Papavi, however, said HSGF had no hand in both incidents.

“The Homeland Study Group Foundation is a peaceful group”, Mr Kudzordzi, who is in his 80s said, stressing in his Ho address that it is “a peace-loving group, a peace-generating group, a peace-making group”.

According to him, he has been cooperating with Ghana’s security authorities following his arrests in the past together with some of his followers.

“I have made myself available to the police and to the security agencies on several occasions.

“Anytime they wanted me, I went there, we had a discussion and then I came home.”

Source: classfmonline.com

According to them, the attention of the Governing Council of Western Togoland had been drawn to a video purported to originate from XYZ TV station which is making rounds on social media.

They note that in the video Mr Mahama made some comments which were “unfortunate, misleading and a slur on the history of the Western Togoland.”

The group, in a lengthy Facebook post, questioned how the former President managed the group during his tenure as he was aware of their existence.

READ MORE:

• Western Togoland separatist group breaks silence on Ho STC attacks

• Western Togoland State speaks on invasion of ‘secessionists’ camp

They went on to cite unfortunate incidents they claimed had been meted out to their people coupled with utterances against their nationality.

“This is just some little information we wish to point out to Mr Mahama which should be of interest to him if he cares to know.

“We wish to let other National Democratic Congress executives know that our future as to where to belong will not be dictated by their personal interests. They should, thus, be careful when dealing with our history,” part of the statement read.

They added: “This region has favoured them for several years but what we get in return doesn’t come close to the wealth they use our votes to get for other areas of this country and themselves. We wish to advise that it will not be in the interest of Mr Mahama if he tries this again with our self-determination issue.”

Read the full statement below:

He explained, he had made himself available to the police and other state security agencies on several occasions anytime they needed him.

Akua Asabea Gyan, the 35-year-old woman, who is married to a 106-year-old man, Agya Akwasi Gyan Marfo Akwaboa in the Western Region, has made a shocking revelation about him.

Despite the backlash and displeasure from netizens over why a woman of her age will stick with someone of that age, she has decided not to pay heed.

This is due to Mr Gyan’s ability to satisfy her in bed.

Speaking exclusively on Adom FM’s Midday News, she bragged that her husband performs exceedingly more than most young men can do in bed.

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As a herbalist, she noted he relies on one of his medicines, ‘Nipa di ns3’ to maintain both his physical and sexual stamina.

Blessed with four kids, they have been together for about 11 years after Mr Gyan assisted the family financially years back.

Mr and Mr Gyan have been in the news for days after visuals of their marriage ceremony went viral.

Though Mr Gyan already has children who may be older than his wife, they have widely accepted her and affectionately call her ‘mama Akua.’

They have pledged their full support, stating their father had found joy and love with her following the demise of their mother years ago.

Listen to Madam Akua in the audio attached above:

The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been accused of orchestrating the recent disturbances in the Volta Region.

General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, claimed the attacks by the Western Togoland Restoration Front were part of a grand scheme to reduce votes in its stronghold.

“As far as I’m concerned, what is being hyped as the Western Togoland issue is a 100 per cent NPP orchestration. NPP will want to do everything to make sure that you don’t participate fully in the December elections,” he stated while addressing party supporters in the Volta Region.

The NDC scribe alleged that, the supposed suspects they arrested in the bush were all fake.

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“Their game plan is simple: they send people to the bushes to go and train and they themselves went to the bushes with cameras to capture these training camps to come and show the international community that Voltarians are training in the bush for subversive activities,” he explained.

General Mosquito, as he is popularly called, said the secessionists’ attacks were just a tip of the iceberg.

“As I stand here, I’m fully aware of military uniforms having been prepared so on December 7, these uniforms will be put on vigilante people to come round Volta Region, in all polling stations to create problems and then they will deploy more military and then Volta Region becomes a battleground from where no election can take place,” he claimed.

The game plan of the NPP, Mr Nketia said is to prevent majority of voters in the Volta Region from voting in the December polls.

“Their simple thinking is that if Voltarians don’t participate in the elections, then they may secure a cheap victory without thinking about the consequences of what they themselves are planting,” General Mosquito stated.

Watch video above for more:

In their first attack on Friday, September 25, 2020, the secessionists seized two police stations, took the officers hostage and stole weapons from the armouries after blocking entry and exit points in the Volta Region.

Subsequently, they torched two buses at the Ho STC yard on Tuesday, September 29, 2020.

Papavi, however, said HSGF had no hand in both incidents.

READ ALSO:

• 15 alleged members of Western Togoland Restoration Front in court

• Western Togoland: Volta chief makes shocking revelation about Papavi

• Bawumia’s description of ‘Western Togolanders’ will shock you [Listen]

“The Homeland Study Group Foundation is a peaceful group,” Mr Kudzordzi, who is in his 80s, said stressing in his Ho address that it is “a peace-loving group, a peace-generating group, a peace-making group.”

According to him, he has been cooperating with Ghana’s security authorities following his arrests in the past together with some of his followers.

“I have made myself available to the police and to the security agencies on several occasions.

“Anytime they wanted me, I went there, we had a discussion and then I came home.”

He also noted that his peaceful overtures to the Government of Ghana have drawn blanks.

“I have, on two occasions, written to the Government of Ghana and the President to have us sit down and have this matter discussed at a roundtable conference. No attention has been paid to the letter”, he complained.

In his view, “Ghana should intensify its level of investigations against people who do things and not just suspect and arrest people.”

The Manklalo of Dofor Traditional area, Torgbe Agbohla VI has made a shocking revelation about the leader of the Homeland Study Group Foundation, Charles Kormi Kudzordzi, popularly known as Papavi.

According to him, Papavi tried convincing him to join the group and even followed it up with an invitation letter but he refused due to his “diabolic plans”.

Torgbe Agbohla made the revelation while addressing the media at Juapong in the North Tongu District following the happenings in parts of the Volta region.

“A letter was sent to me by the leader of Western Togoland but for me, I like to study about my homeland but after reading the letter I realised the agenda and I knew it was a dangerous trend and so I didn’t even involve myself at all and never attended their meetings,” he told Joy News.

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The Manklalo of Dofor said some residents in Juapong also received same letters but also rejected the invitation.

Based on this backdrop, he said nobody in his town is part of the Homeland Study Group thus none of them can be held liable.

Torgbe Agbohla called for the release of his people including the Asafotse who were arrested during the police swoop.

He also called on the security agencies to beef up security in the district to prevent a recurrence.

Watch video above:

Mr. Ofosu Ampofo in a statement said President Akufo Addo’s loud silence on happenings in parts of the Volta region was alarming.

To the party, the event appears to be a calculated and deliberate effort to suppress votes in the ‘strongholds of the NDC, in view of an already heavy security deployment in the area during the recent voter registration exercise.

However, Dr Bawumia speaking exclusively in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen said it is needless for the issue to be politicised.

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“It doesn’t make sense when people try to take advantage of such a situation because we won an election by over 1 million votes when they were in power so why would we suppress votes now,” he quizzed.

To him, the parties must come together and protect the nation instead of making political gains.

He stressed the activities of the group was criminal and needs a national attention instead of divisiveness.

“I believe our performance puts us in a better position than we were in 2016 so there is no need to suppress votes. All we need is to come together and help our security agencies to deal with this issue,” he urged.

This comes after the group widely known known as the Western Togoland claiming independence in the region resurfaced September this year with diverse attacks.

They blocked entry and exits points of the region, ransacked two police stations in Mepe and Aveyime, and made away with weapons and ammunition.

One life has been lost and three injured in the process while the staff of the State Transport Company (STC) were beaten and with buses burnt to ashes on Monday dawn.

The secessionists known as the Western Togoland Restoration Front have orchestrated two separate incidents in the region recently, resulting in the death of at least one individual and damage to property.

Responding to the disturbances, the President has affirmed his trust in the country’s security forces and has assured that the matter is being handled with the utmost urgency.

“Institutions are in place, the security agencies are doing their work, they’ve started already and we’ll see results.

What’s happening in the Volta Region is just by a handful of people. These secessionists. We will deal with them. I have no doubt about it,” the President said in an interview on Wednesday.

READ ALSO:

Western Togoland: Papavi exposed! [Audio]

Bawumia’s description of ‘Western Togolanders’ will shock you [Listen]

The group’s activities have been greeted with widespread condemnation from many quarters including the National House of Chiefs, and political parties among others.

However, some members of the public have criticised what they say is the conspicuous silence of the President on the development calling for a public pronouncement on the nation’s strategy to handle the menace.

Speaking on Kumasi-based Hello FM, Mr Akufo-Addo said he has hesitated in commenting on the matter in order to ensure that the country doesn’t panic in the face of the riots.

“If I panic, the country panics…There is no value for the country if I start making hysterical statements,” he said.

“That’s not the purpose of leadership. I am supposed to assure people that our country will work.”

The President believes, public statements by him on the situation in the North Tongu district will not resolve the problem, especially as he trusts the nation’s security apparatus to clamp down on the activities of the separatists.

He explained: “When the right measures are put in place, you can, not so much as sleep and be complacent, but at least you can be steady and face what is coming. I trust the security agencies, I trust the Armed Forces, I trust the Police, I trust their leadership, the intelligence agencies, I know they are all working very very hard to make sure that this matter is dealt with as quickly as possible.”

He added that “the security agencies are doing their work. They have started already and we will see results.”

On September 28, a group of armed men was reported to have attacked the State Transport Corporation (STC) in Ho, the Volta Regional capital.

The security guard on duty is said to have been held at gunpoint as they set one of the buses on fire and damaged another.

President Akufo-Addo argued that the modus operandi of the secessionist group is currently being investigated by the security agencies to ensure that the ‘element of surprise’ that has so far worked in their favour is eliminated.

“The element of surprise is there at the beginning for terrorist groups. But after some time when the system is working, you will no longer be surprised. So they have dome this one or twice. The third…fourth or fifth time will not be that easy.”

Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has described the activities of the Homeland Study Group Foundation (Western Togoland) in their struggle for independence as criminal.

“There is no legal basis for having a so-called Western Togoland. The activity of the secessionists in the Volta region is criminal because the history doesn’t support their action” he told Osei Bonsu on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Wednesday.

His comment comes after a group of persons believed to be members of Western Togoland separatist movement on Monday dawn attacked the State Transport Corporation (STC) in the Volta regional capital of Ho.

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In this attack allegedly carried out by the group follows an earlier attack on some state institutions and police stations including mounting of roadblocks on Friday, September 25, 2020.

But Dr Bawumia maintained that, Western Togoland does not exist anywhere in Ghana’s history.

“The area today they call Western Togoland must be a figment of their imagination. It does not exist, there is no legal basis for their claims,” he told Ekosii Sen host of the show, OB.

He added that the government will not negotiate with the separatists adding that they have no basis for their fight.

Dr Bawumia revealed that the security agencies are working hard to intercept many of the plans these separatists will carry out.

“The agencies are doing a lot, it is not everything that we can say on air. I am very comfortable with their work. In fact, they have foiled things that could have been worse,” he added.

The Vice President urged Ghanaians to stand together to support the security agencies to help put a stop to the separatists’ activities.

Listen to attached audio for more:

A resident of Ho, the capital of the Volta Region has made a shocking revelation about the leader of secessionist group, the Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF), Charles Kormi Kudzordzi, popularly known as Papavi.

Speaking on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem Wednesday, Paul Boateng said the secessionist movement started some 30 years ago when Papavi used to be a show host on Volta Radio Star.

He said Papavi while on radio was giving education on how Volta region became part of Ghana.

“There are a lot of people behind this movement, and Papavi started it. He used to be a show host on one of the radio stations in the Volta Region and gave history lessons about Western Togoland,” he noted.

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According to him, what made some Voltarians believe his claims were the facts were that he invited some chiefs in the region on his radio show to corroborate his claims.

Paul Boateng asserted that Papavi had always been a favourite of Voltarians and at some point in time, he almost believed his assertions that Voltarians were not Ghanaians.

He urged the government to get some documents he believes contain strategies and plans developed by Papavi for the secessionist group.

“Let’s get the document from the Volta Star radio, that is where Papavi worked. The government has to get them to know its contents to be able to counter the plans and strategies of the group,” he added.

Click on attached for more:

The accused persons have been jointly charged with conspiracy to commit crime, rioting with weapons, and participating in campaign of a prohibited organisation namely Western Togoland and to attend meeting of same.

The Court, presided over by Mrs Rosemary Baah Torsu, preserved their pleas pending further investigations into the matter.

Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sylvester Asare, prayed the Court not to take their pleas because their purpose in court was to “get the accused remanded properly in custody.”

ASP Asare said the police were in court to meet a constitutional requirement of 48 hours, and that the offence took place in another region.

Some security personnel from the National Security, BNI, the Military and other affiliate organisations had travelled to the Volta Region for further investigations, he said.

Defence Counsel, Theophilus Donkor, noted that the police had already breached the constitutional requirement of 48 hours by keeping the accused persons in custody.

He argued that the grant of bail was not based on the fact that accused persons’ pleas had been taken or not, adding; “Every suspect is entitled to bail.”

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According to Defence Counsel, some of the accused persons were only trading, a few on their way to farms and others bathing when they were rounded up.

Counsel quizzed prosecution over the arrest of the 19-year old female, saying; “what strength has the 19-year old got to commit the offence preferred against her.”

He noted that his clients had not been given food and had not taken their bath for the past three days in custody.

Mr Donkor, therefore, prayed the Court to order the State to give him and some relations access to the accused persons, whiles in BNI custody.

The Court, after listening to both sides, remanded all the accused persons to reappear on October 13 and ordered the State to give them access to their lawyer and relations.

It said prosecution should see to it that they were given what they needed, especially food.

On September 25, this year, at Juapong in the Volta Region, the accused persons, allegedly armed themselves with offensive weapons – cutlasses, rifles and other related weapons – and engaged in rioting in relation to a prohibited organisation known as the Western Togoland group.

The armed men, who attacked the police stations, are reported to have broken into armories and made away with all the weapons in storage.

In some videos from the attacks, some of the bandits were seen parading themselves in a police car which was stolen during their operation.

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However, the Ghana Police Service, having launched a counter-attack on Friday and having commenced investigations into the matter in an update on Monday, September 28, 2020, has said among other things it has retrieved the weapons and cars which were stolen by the group.

The police say they have also made fresh arrests of persons who are believed to have taken a key part in the attacks.

This comes after a group of young men, believed to be members of the Western Togoland secessionist group, mounted a roadblock at Akrade and prevented vehicular movement.

They were arrested by the Form Police Unit (FPU) in an operation in the area following an invasion at Aveyime and Mepe Police stations which led to a police officer being injured.

The group, after attacking some police personnel on duty, broke into the armory before driving off in a police van.

Leader of the police FPU troupe, DSP Johnson Bediako confirmed the arrest in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM.

“We have managed to pick about four people for interrogation based on intelligence we gathered. But the community should be assured of stability because the police are in the area and there are no fears,” he said.

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He went on to assure the situation was under control, stating the team will get to the bottom of the matter.

“The situation is under control and the situation is calm in the area.  Since the attack on the police and the District Assembly, there hasn’t been any further attack on any facility since we came in. We have managed to stabilise security so far in the area,” he assured.

In view of that, he said, the security agencies had taken stringent measures to deal with it decisively and publish names of key actors on the watch list in the coming days, in order to forestall any future occurrence.

He said government considered the action by the group as purely criminal and infringement of the country’s laws and, would, therefore, prosecute them accordingly.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah announced this at a news conference in Accra on Sunday, to provide an update on the Homeland Study Group Foundation’s attack and road blockade of some major entry and exit points to the Volta Region, in the early hours of Friday, September 25.

The Minister refuted claims that the security agencies were not proactive to gather security intelligence about the group’s intended action, saying the security agencies “did well by securing critical state installations such as Akosombo and Akuse dams, Adomi Bridge and Ho Central Market which the group had targeted to blast.

The secessionist group attacked two police stations at Aveyime and Mepe, and seized 10 AK47 assault rifles after breaking into the police armoury.

They ransacked the police stations, released inmates in custody, physically assaulted and injured police officers. The group, subsequently, blocked major roads to the Region and burnt car tyres.

However, a joint police/military enforcement team rescued the police officers who were held hostage. The security agencies have so far arrested 31 members of the secessionist group, airlifted to Accra and in the custody of the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service were being interrogated.

One person died and several others injured during the exchange of fire between the security agencies and the secessionist group.

The Minister acknowledged the condemnation of the group’s action by the Council of State, National House of Chiefs and a section of the public and urged all well-meaning Ghanaians to rally behind the state in solidarity to prevent the whipping up of political or ethnic sentiments.

Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said the security agencies would prefer appropriate charges against them and arraign them before court for prosecution.

He also rubbished claims that the government was creating confusion in the opposition NDC party’s “stronghold” ahead of the December 7 Election and used it as the basis to deploy soldiers to the place to intimidate voters.

The Homeland Study Group Foundation in May 2019 declared independence for Western Togoland, saying that they were no more part of Ghana.

This led to the arrest of a 78-year old Charles Kormi Kudzordzi, aka “Papavi”, the Leader of the group and some other members of the group.

Some were later released, while others faced prosecution in different regions.

According to him, this separatist group, along with two others, had been under the radar of the Volta Regional Security Council since 2017.

He revealed that the nation’s security forces had pre-empted the Friday morning attack by securing vital installations in the region from the group, and it was suspected that the roadblocks at the Mepe-Sege road and the Accra-Ho road at Juapong were designed as a distraction to draw the security forces away from those locations.

“We’ve been monitoring them for some time now for over two years, 2017. We were aware that there were going to be some activities last night and we had to protect some vital installation to make sure that the economy of the region is not adversely affected. So we actually were able to prevent some more serious attacks that were planned by this group,” he said.

Dr Letsa further revealed that the WTRF is one of three other secessionist groups in the Volta Region that have sprung from the Western Togoland Study Group, headed by Papavi.

However, the WTRF, which is led by Tobgbe Yesu I, is more militant than the Western Togoland Study Group.

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“They started with the Western Togoland Study Group but since then we have had some separate groups developing. And the Western Togoland Study Group was led by Papavi. But this Restoration group is being led by Togbe Yesu I. And there is another group; so we have three splinter groups that we are now dealing with.

“But they are all offspring of the same group but there are some differences among them. This group [Western Togoland Restoration Group] appears to be more militant than the previous one and we’ve been trying to deal with them as such,” he said.

The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Letsa, has revealed the true leader of the Homeland Study Group Foundation.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Dr Letsa said the true leader of the secessionist group is Tobge Yesu and not Charles Kormi Kudzordzi, popularly known as Papavi, who is believed to be the leader of the group.

“The leader of this group causing the problems is different from the Papavi we all know. Though they belong to the same group, there are factions and he is not Papavi. We would not want to make details known to the public as we still have our intelligence on the ground,” he said.

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Dr Letsa’s comment comes after the separatist group on Friday dawn took over Juapong, a town in North Tongu District of the Volta Region.

This roadblock, the group says is to “assert its sovereignty all over the Southern sector.”

Dr Letsa said most people in the Volta Region do not support the activities of the group and have continuously expressed disappointment in the group.

“The majority of the people in the Volta Region do not support what is going on. Many people in the Volta Region are embarrassed by the activities of these people.

“We have a situation we are trying to deal with, it is critical. The situation is complex and we are putting all measures in place to clear the roads,” he said.

Click on attached audio for more:

The accused persons comprising 20 males and a female were arrested on Monday dawn by a combined team of officers of the Ghana Army, as well as police officers, in a 2 a.m. dawn raid on the training ground.

They are said to have been recruited by the secessionist group led by 80-year-old Charles Kokuvi Kudzordj (aka Papavi) into what they call the Guerilla Army, and were undergoing training when they were arrested.

The 21 accused are facing two counts of participating in the campaign of a prohibited organisation and also attending meeting of a prohibited organisation.

Their plea was not taken as Chief Inspector Simon Apiorsornu who represented the prosecution said they were still investigating the matter and wanted them to be remanded for them to conclude the investigations.

Suspects

The suspects are Justine Abotsi Kpuia, pupil teacher; Joshua Lawoe, motor rider; Patrick Doe-Dzogbeta, repairer; Solomon Normeshie, unemployed; Moses Dakpenese, driver; Raymond Amemo, glass works; Justice Kumahor, steel bender; Christian Agbeko, unemployed; Emmanuel Tannor, salesman; William Ahiamadi, electrician and Michael Dakpenese, motor rider.

The rest are Enos Agbanyo, mason; Francis Sakyi, mason; Kwami Asorgna, unemployed; Divine Bedzrah, unemployed; Samuel Key Suglo, fisher; Vincent Abotsi, fisher; Anthony Dormekpo, driver; Kofi Atsu, teacher; Etse Borlor, mason and Julius Sah, lotto agent.

Facts

The fact presented by Chief Inspector Apiorsornu said on February 17, 2020, personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces following several days of intelligence gathering on the activities of the Western Togoland secessionist group, a prohibited organisation, arrested the accused persons who have been recruited into the army wing of the secessionist group at Dzodze in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region.

He said the accused persons bought recruitment forms and paid between GH¢400 and GH¢800 as registration fees through a Mobile Money number registered in the name of one Samuel GAFA who is on the run.

He told the court that the accused persons were made to assemble at Dzodze and they were transported on motorbikes and vehicles to the training camp of the secessionist group – Guerilla Army – to commence training.

Chief Inspector Apiorsornu further stated that the accused persons were then briefed about the activities of the secessionist group by one Togbe, aka Spider.

He said state security agencies had intelligence about the training of the accused persons and the military on February 17. They, therefore, conducted a raid at the camp and the accused persons were arrested while their instructors and other trainees managed to escape.

Remand

The prosecution had pleaded with the court not to take the plea of the accused persons as they were still investigating the matter.

However, George Asameni opposed the move and said the law provides that an accused person once charged and put before the court must plead to the offence.

The court presided over by Ellen Offei Aryeh initially said the plea of the accused persons must be taken but after realising some defects with the charges decided not to take the pleas.

She subsequently remanded them to re-appear on March 4, 2020 and urged the prosecution to take another look at the charges, adding that the plea of the accused persons would be taken when they re-appear.

Radio Tongu is a community radio station based at Sogakope in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region.

Mr Zottor was arrested in his home in a joint security operation of personnel from the Bureau of National Investigations, the military and the police.

His arrest came few days after Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, the Volta Region Minister, issued a warning to media houses in the Region, with particular mention of Radio Tongu, to desist from championing separatists’ activities or risk being held answerable to applicable offences.

Campaigners of the so-called Western Togoland with 85-year old Kormi Kudzordzi, known as Papavi Hogbedetor, the leader, on Saturday, November 16, 2019, claimed they had declared Volta Region an independent Western Togoland state, after which some members were picked by the police.

The Ghana News Agency (GNA) was told the decision to arrest Mr Zottor was taken after a District Security Council (DISEC) meeting.

The meeting was called to consider contents of radio programme recordings available on social media, said to have been made by Mr Zottor on Monday, January 13, which allegedly bordered on security matters and sought to incite the public to engage in violent acts.

Public Relations Officer of Volta Region Police Command, Prince Dogbatse said Mr Zottor was in custody at the Command assisting in investigations.  

Let’s take a look at the issues that made headlines in 2019 on Adomonline.com:

#Drop that Chamber (New Parliament Chamber, July)

A proposal by the Majority Caucus in Parliament to construct a multi-purpose 450-seater parliamentary chamber costing $ 200 million dollars was met with stiff resistance from Ghanaians.

The construction of the proposed Chamber angered the Ghanaian populace as a group identified as the Economic Fighters, stormed parliament to protest against the move.

Defending the construction of the Chamber, Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu explained that, the Chamber was to enhance legislative duties of Parliament, but to Ghanaians it was a misplaced priority.

Following further agitations by Ghanaians, Parliament rescinded its decision to build the new Chamber.

So the new Chamber was finally dropped, and in the end the nation was the victor. 

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Comprehensive Sexual Education (October)

Another issue that got the whole country talking was the inclusion of the Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE) in the learning curriculum of basic schools.

The government was accused of trying to execute a secret Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) agenda with the introduction of CSE in basic schools. Religious organisations, anti-LGBT movements, members of the opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) and most parents resisted the move by the government.

Government, however, denied approving the inclusion of the CSE programme in basic schools.

GRIDCo switches off VALCO over US$30 million debt

SHS placement saga (September)

For the first time in the history of the nation, graduates of junior high schools had to queue for days at the Black Star Square for placement in the various senior high schools across the country.

Some challenges met with Computerised School Selection Placement System (CSSPS), saw thousands of frustrated parents and students storm the Black Star Square for redress, but the situation turned out for the worse as some confrontations ensued between parents and officials of the Ghana Education Service.

Some students were also reported to have collapsed at the Black Star Square.

Speaking on the challenges of the situation at the Black Star Square, Minister for Education, Dr Mathew Opoku-Prempeh is noted to have blamed the NDC for the mass numbers at the Black Star Square and also said students reported to have fainted at the Black Star Square faked the collapse.

Alleged Coup plot (September)

In a press release dated September 23, 2019, Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah on behalf of government, revealed the attempt by a group of civilians and some serving military officers to overthrow the government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The Information Minister in the press release accused the ‘coup plotters’ of trying to destabilise the country. He made mention of the arrest of three persons and the retrieval of several arms, explosive devices and ammunition.

Later, investigations by the Bureau of National Investigations, Criminal investigations Department and Defence Intelligence further led to the arrest of six other persons including Assistant Commissioner of Police Dr Benjamin Agordzor.

The all 10 alleged ‘coup plotters’ have been charged with treason and are currently standing trial. 

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Republic of the Western Togoland (November)

An alarming yet amusing issue was the secession of the Volta Region and parts of the then Northern and Upper East Regions along the eastern border of Ghana (Western Togoland) into an independent state by the secessionist group called the Homeland Study Group Foundation.

The group with members not more than 20, called for the secession of the Western Togoland, a German protectorate from Ghana boundaries.

Leader of the Separatist movement, Mr Charles Komi Kudzordzi alias Papavi Hogbedetor, who is in his 80s on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at a public gathering in Ho declared the Western Togoland an independent country.

Following the declaration of independence by the separatist group, members of the group were arrested by the police and arraigned.

Leader of the group, Mr Kudzordzi, however, managed to evade arrest and is currently on the run.

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Parked Ambulances at State House November)

What is probably the most annoying and questionable decision of government is the non-distribution of some 48 parked ambulances at the forecourt of parliament house in wait for the remaining 259 ambulances before distribution.

Ghanaians criticised the government’s decision to park the ambulances despite the urgent need for them to facilitate health delivery.

Calls by Ghanaians to have government distribute the parked ambulances fell on deaf ears as government continued to park them in front of the State House until late December 20, when the remaining 259 ambulances were shipped into the country.

Though ready, all 307 ambulances have still not been distributed as government hopes to do so in January 2020.

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PDS Scandal (August)

The scandalous concession of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to the Power Distribution Services (PDS) was another issue to make headlines in the country.

Government after ceding 49 per cent of ECG to the power firm, terminated its concession agreement with PDS over its failure to satisfy some relevant conditions.

Notable amongst the conditions was the provision of a Demand Guarantee or a Letter of Credit issued by a Qualified Bank.

The termination of the contract saw government losing some $ 190 million dollars from the United States aimed at supporting the energy sector. 

The government was also criticised for not performing the needed due diligence prior to approving the concession agreement.

Sex for Grades [October]

The exchange of sex for grades in tertiary institutions is an old-aged problem not only in Africa but around the world. It’s not new and it’s not a secret, it’s known among school authorities and particularly tertiary students.

Although largely known, there was no evidence supporting the phenomenon, hence BBC Africa Eye’s attempt to provide evidence for the phenomenon.

BBC Africa in October this year released an expose revealing how lecturers in higher learning institutions sexually exploit female students.

The expose’ centered on the University of Ghana and University of Lagos, both prestigious tertiary institutions in Ghana and Nigeria respectively. 

Professor Ransford Gyampo and Dr Paul Butakor of the University of Ghana were captured. Dr Boniface Igbeneghu of the University of Lagos, following the expose’, was dismissed.

Though interdicted, the University of Ghana is yet to decide the fate of Prof. Gyampo and Dr Butakor.

Year of Return (February)

The ‘Year of Return’ initiative implemented by the government marks exactly 400 years since the first black slaves landed in Jamestown Virginia in the United States. 

Ghana initiated the ‘Year of Return’ to invite all Africans in the diaspora back home to not only learn more but explore and even invest in the country.

Since the initiative began, many African Americans have made their way into the country to learn more about their history. Some were Steve Harvey, Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Anderson, Micheal Jai White, Boris Kodjoe, Nicole Ari Parker, Diggy Simmons, Cardi B and many others.

Government is also reported to have made a little over $1.9 billion dollars in revenue from the initiative.

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Ghana rice [November]

The Ghana Rice campaign has caught up with almost everybody now.

Ghanaians have for a long time developed strong taste for foreign made rice as compared to one produced on their home soil.

Ghana spends about $600 million annually importing rice. Images of unsold Ghana rice produced in the north went viral on social media last month sparking a national campaign to encourage the consumption of Ghana rice.

December 17 referendum & recall (October – December)

Remember this issue and all the noise the NDC and New Patriotic Party made about it? Yeah, you do remember. For most Ghanaians just like me, the debate between the two major political parties about the referendum was just to score political points and nothing else.

Especially, when the opposition party the NDC celebrated the repeal of the referendum as a ‘win’ and a ‘victory’ for them. 

Well, the referendum was to amend article 55(3) of the constitution which bars partisan politics at the local level and allow political participation in local level elections.

It was also to amend article 243(1) of the constitution, striping the President of his power to appoint local authorities (MMDCEs). The amendment of article 243(1) would have meant that the electorate would be allowed to elect their own MMDCEs.  

However, the referendum slated for December 17, was out of the blue aborted by President Nana Akufo-Addo in a televised address to the nation on December 1, 2019, on the basis of “lack of national consensuses on matters relating to the referendum.”

And so there you have it; these were the topmost headlines for 2019. More news content especially for you in 2020.

Compiled by Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy and Fuaad Dodoo

The Association has accused DVLA of wanting to use the new regulation as a money making tool for the government.

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“It is another money making tool by government, twice a year roadworthy renewal at the expense of drivers who are already suffering. Accidents by Uber and Taxify cars are extremely low and so the road worthiness of these cars is not in question,” said Promise Torgbo Wise, Public Relations Officer for the Association.

The new regulation, aside providing a distinct DVLA identification for the digital transport operators, will also require twice a year roadworthy renewal.

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The drivers, venting their anger over the new development on Adom FM’s Y’asem Nie, a social discussion segment on the Dwaso Nsem morning show on Wednesday, called on the government to cancel the new regulation.

They argued that the already 25% charge by Uber and Taxify, is exorbitant and therefore wants the new regulation scrapped to enable them survive the hardships in the country.

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“We do not like the taxes DVLA have placed on our job, the App we use for our online service takes 25 percent for every trip, we also pay GH¢ 60.00 for authentication and verification of our vehicles every month. And DVLA wants to add this also, how do we survive this?” they questioned.

Watch video above:

Source: Adomonline.com | Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy