Share

Ghana arrests 20 in separatist crackdown

Police in Ghana have arrested at least 20 people accused of preparing to declare an eastern region as an independent country, police said on Wednesday.

The men, arrested in and around the town of Ho, some 150km northeast of the capital Accra, are accused of leading a campaign for a separate nation called "Western Togoland".

It follows the arrest of eight men on Sunday. Those arrested include the group's leader, 85-year-old Charles Kormi Kudjordji.

They face charges of conspiracy to commit treason, as well as charges connected to the alleged training of a militia force.

"Members of the group are being picked up," a police officer said, who asked to remain anonymous as "a joint police-military security operation" was ongoing.

"So far we've picked up 20 members and we hope to arrest more," the officer said.

A member of the group, Forster Agbormenya, confirmed the arrests.

Police said the men were part of a group called the "Homeland Study Group Foundation", or HGSF.

The group formed in 1994, and says it works to advance the rights of the people in eastern Ghana, which it calls Western Togoland.

In 2017, HGSF leaders were arrested and warned not to engage in activities against the state.

Multiple ethnicities live in the region, a place with a history of rule by three colonial European powers.

Britain seized much of what is today Ghana, and Germany grabbed neighbouring Togo.

After Germany's defeat in World War One, the land was split between British Togoland and French Togoland.

When Britain left its empire in Africa, British Togoland became part of eastern Ghana in 1956.

But separatists say the area has its own unique history and culture, and want a country of their own.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
41% - 578 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
59% - 822 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.88
+0.3%
Rand - Pound
23.87
+0.2%
Rand - Euro
20.39
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.33
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.12
+0.2%
Platinum
908.05
0.0%
Palladium
1,014.94
0.0%
Gold
2,232.75
-0.0%
Silver
24.95
-0.1%
Brent Crude
87.00
+1.8%
Top 40
68,346
0.0%
All Share
74,536
0.0%
Resource 10
57,251
0.0%
Industrial 25
103,936
0.0%
Financial 15
16,502
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE