National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress Sammy Gyamfi has kicked against a proposal to government to negotiate with the secessionists group seeking to gain independence of what they have named Western Togoland.
The group, after series of actions, on Friday morning blocked some major roads in the Volta region and attacked police stations while making away with some guns and ammunition.
The violent attack also witnessed attempts by the ‘rebels’ to seize some state assets including the Kpong Hydroelectric Dam.
Though over 30 persons have been arrested and security beefed up in that part of the country, security analyst Prof. Kwesi Aning has suggested to government to engage the group in a dialogue instead of resorting to the use of force.
In his assertion, insurgency of this kind are not dealt with by the use of military forces.
“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),” Prof. Aning advised.
However, Sammy Gyemfi disagrees, stating that the action of the group amounts to treason and sedition which must be dealt with using the law.
“There are certain things that are subjected to mediation and negotiation. In my opinion, there are other things that cannot and should not be subject of mediation and negotiation and one of them is treason and sedition. When the territorial integrity of the country is threatened by rebels, you don’t negotiate. You stamp it out,” he said on Joy fm’s Newsfile monitored by dreamzfmonline.com.
He added: “Such moments and persons are criminals and for me, must be treated as such.”
The NDC’s chief spokesperson further accused the Nana Addo led administration of failing the state and reneging on their responsibility of protecting the territorial boundaries of the country and its citizens.
“As a party we condemn in no uncertain terms armed violence and invasion of parts of the Volta region. We think that it is a clear monumental failure on the part of President Akufo Addo, his government and our security agencies to protect the people of the Volta region particularly the areas where these violence took place,” he added.
