Government has revealed that the secessionist group, Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF) which has been clamouring for the independence of parts of Ghana has backing from international organizations.
Speaking on news analysis show, Newsfile on Joy News TV, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Osei Bonsu Amoah disclosed that government and the National Security are aware of an international organization known as Unrepresented Nations and People’s Organization (UNPO) which is supporting the secessionist group’s demand for independence.
Mr. Amoah revealed that a 2017 report by the international organization claimed that the group has been marginalized and are under siege since 2017 by the government of Ghana and has therefore given it recognition as a group “without nation.”
The report, he added, contends that the 1956 Plebiscite which led to the integration of British Togoland with independent Ghana was not properly conducted as result the people of former British Togoland have the right to self-rule.
“This group has international connections. National Security is aware of all these things. Indeed, if you go to the report of so-called Unrepresented Nations and People’s Organization 2017, they are adopting this group saying that they are being marginalized. They are under siege by government since 2017 so they have presented them as people without nation. They (the Organization) say they (the secessionist group) have a right to be on their own because the plebiscite was not properly done,” he said.
The Deputy Local Government and Rural Development Minister further disclosed that the secessionist group alleged to the international organization that its members are being targeted and attacked by the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) government and thus had planned to gain independence in May 2017.
Reacting to concerns raised about the effectiveness of security agencies in curtailing the group’s activities, the Deputy Minister stated that the group, in their bid for independence in 2017, had intended to launch more destructive attacks on the state than witnessed on Friday but the timely intervention of the security agencies of the country has foiled some of their intended actions.
“To the extent that they said that the NPP (government) is attacking them that is why they want to have their own state. So they decided that by May 9, 2017, they should declare independence and since then, they have done their worst but for the fact that the security agencies are on top of their job, there would have been much more serious situation than this,” he stated.
In the said report, the UNPO declared its support for what it termed as a peaceful campaign for “self determination” undertaken by the HSGF.
Justifying its support for the separatist group, the UNPO stated that “It is important that the true will of the people in Western Togoland be heard, without coercion, threat or misuse of the judicial system to silence advocates of independence. Furthermore, UNPO believes in the importance of the history and culture of West Togoland to be taught freely and condemns all violence and discrimination against the people of the region in its entirety. To this extent, it is important for Western Togolanders to have an equal chance to develop, both socially and economically.”
