Leadership of the so-called state of Western Togoland has indicated its readiness to negotiate with the government of Ghana over their demands to declare independence and sovereignty of their state.
A purported statement from the Bureau of National Communications of the supposed state said the use of military and other forces to deal with their demand will escalate the already deteriorating security situation in that part of Ghana.
“The leadership of the Governing Council of Western Togoland has constantly been advising the leadership of Ghana that the way this lingering issue is being handled can lead to a situation we may not be able to handle. The best solution is negotiation and not intimidation by the use of the military. It has never worked,” the statement said.
The leadership maintained that, they are not responsible for the recent violent acts carried out in parts of the Volta region adding that “the Ghana government whose President doubles as ECOWAS Chairman must call its security forces to order to prevent more of this unnecessary happenings.”
While warning against the politicization of their demands and actions, they accused the governing New Patriotic Party and opposition National Democratic Congress of being the reason for their desire to break away due to the continuous neglect of their needs.
“We wish to make it clear to the leadership of Ghana and her security agencies that enough is enough and the needless brutalities coupled with wanton disrespect for the fundamental human rights of the citizens of the Western Togoland has reached its apex,” the statement signed by the Director of Communications warned.
The separatists on Friday went on the rampage, attacking police stations, blocking roads and exchanging gunfire with security forces. It took the security agencies hours to bring the situation under control.
Meanwhile, government has indicated its readiness to deal with the group and track down its financing machinery in the coming days.
“Yes we know where the funding is coming from and the various agencies are moving in as part of a comprehensive program to deal with this whole phenomenon. And we are also moving in to deal with their sources of funding and persons who we believe are associated with the funding of this group,” Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah told newsmen on Sunday.
