Western Togoland case: Five secessionists found guilty, sentencing set for March 21
The convicts were arrested in September 2020 following attempts to declare parts of the Volta and Oti regions as independent state to be called ‘Western Togoland’.
The Accra High Court (Criminal Division) has convicted five secessionists of the Western Togoland Restoration Front (WTRF), for offences under the Prohibited Organisations Act 1976 (Supreme Military Council Decree/SMCD20).
The convicts were arrested in September 2020 after they blocked the Aveyime road and subsequently attacked the Aveyime and Mepe Police Stations in the Volta Region, in an attempt to declare parts of the Volta and Oti regions as an independent state to be called ‘Western Togoland’.
The five – Ebenezer Gblorkpor, Afetorgbor Kpogo, Joseph Nyamewu, Wisdom Kumor and Israel Bessah Kpexor were convicted on charges for attending meetings contrary to section 2(1) (b) of SMCD 20, making contributions to the funds of a prohibited organisation contrary to section 2(1)(g) of DMD 20, participating in the campaign of a prohibited organisation contrary to section 2(1)(d) of SMCD 20, and being a member of a prohibited organisation contrary to section 2(1)(i) of SMCD 20.
The first accused, Ebenezer Gblorkpor, was found guilty on the first, second and forth charges. Second accused, Afetorgbor Kpogo was also found guilty on the third charge. The third accused, Joseph Nyamewu, and the other two were all convicted on the third and forth charges.
The presiding judge, Justice Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh however adjourned sentencing to March 21, 2023.
