Court grants secessionist group leaders bail

By A.B. Kafui Kanyi, GNA
Ho, March 9, GNA - A Ho-High Court presided over by Justice Nicholas Charles Agbevor on Thursday granted bail to leaders of the Homeland Study Group Foundation, a secessionist group in the Volta Region.

Kormi Kudzordzi, Martin Asiana Agbenu and Divine Odonkor pleaded not guilty to charges of treason and were admitted to bail in the sum of GHȼ50,000.00 with two sureties each.

They are expected back in court on March 14, 2017.
Mr Moses Asamfoa, the State Attorney told the court that the accused persons were members of the Homeland Study Group Foundation in the Volta Region.

He said on February 26, this year, the Group held a press conference in Ho chaired by Kudzordzi who claimed that Western Togoland sovereignty was non-negotiable and that Ghana's hold on Togoland was illegal and must be denounced and decoupled immediately.

Mr Asamfoa said the Group further threatened that people who had patience to go in the direction of due process was gradually reducing and being replaced by those who think the slow process was not acceptable to them and wanted it in a radical form and that the time for the radicals to act was now.

He said the Group had planned to declare independence of the Western Togoland by May 9, 2017 and that the Volta Regional Police Command summoned the leaders and cautioned them against any illegal act that could undermine the security of the country.

The State Attorney said on March 6, this year, the police arrested Agbenu at Tokokoe during Ghana's Independence anniversary celebrations wearing and offering for sale 'T' shirts with a delimited Ghana map with the eastern portion marked, 'State of Western Togoland.'

Mr Asamfoa said Agbenu was also heard broadcasting that the Group would declare independence of the Western Togoland on May 9, this year.

He said during interrogation, Agbenu mentioned Kudzordzi and Odonkor with four others; Henry Adzato, Besah Akorli, Yao Adrah and Amaglo Tordey, all at large as leaders of the Group who printed the 'T' shirts in preparation for the independence of Western Togoland.

Mr Asamfoa said Kudzordzi and Odonkor were subsequently arrested and charged accordingly for treason and asked the court to remand them to enable police complete investigations.

Mr Emil Atsu Agbakpey, Counsel for the accused persons, argued against the application to remand the accused persons and said though the offence for which they were charged seemed grievous the law allowed that bail be granted.

He said the facts presented lacked important ingredients that constitute treason and failed to disclose to the court the means by which the treasonable act was to be done.

Mr Agbakpey therefore prayed the court to admit the accused persons to bail and that they posed no immediate threat to society.

Justice Agbevor said the charge against the accused persons sounded despicable but not suggestive of use of unlawful means and granted them bail.

He said he adjourned prosecution to allow the police to 'put their house in order,' and warned the accused persons against any acts in furtherance of the charges.

GNA