Security Analyst Professor Kwesi Aning has indicated that Friday’s violent action by the Western Togoland secessionist group has demonstrated that it has gone beyond just talking and issuing threats.
In the assertion of the respected security expert, the latest move by the ‘rebel’ group is the single most successful first time military attack by a secessionist group both in the Sahel Sahara and in West Africa.
Professor Kwesi Aning wondered how Ghana’s security agencies used intelligence they had indicated they gathered about 36 hours before the group struck, could not be used to foil the separated actions of the secessionist group.
“The shear geographical expansion of where the actions took place, the time that it took them to block roads, sing patriotic songs, dance round and also talk to people. The choice of the two police stations, the successes in over running them, tying them up, destroying state property and seizing tells a story of a careful planning, masterful execution and a clear signal to the state that this particular group has gone beyond talking,” he said on Joy fm’s Newsfile monitored by dreamzfmonline.com.
He noted that the current development on the matter of secession presents two flags and more than two groups all using a secessionist language.
In has emerged that on 24th of August 2020, the group suspected to be behind the latest attack on state security and installation which is seeking to declare independence of what they say is Western Togoland, evangelized at an open market area on why they want to break away from Ghana.
They have cited neglect on the part of Ghana government as one of the reasons for their demand to secede from the country.
Professor Aning chastised the security agencies for failing to act on the video of the gathering which was held in a public place.
“This is a monumental failure and even much more disturbing,” he added.
He prevailed upon the government of Ghana to negotiate with the group in dealing with the matter.
“In the negotiation process, there is give and take. You don’t just use the law to punish people. The history of secessionism and the way these issues have been resolved does not speak to that (using force). In Liberia and Sierra and other affected nations, talking to those who feel excluded and have lifted arms against the state does not show weakness on the part of the state”.
