Sleeping dogs have not lied as the conversation surrounding the Western Togoland still lurks. A Security and Intelligent Expert Mr. Paul Boateng, has stated that the mayhem being caused by the Secessionist Group of Western Togoland is as a result of Intelligence failure.
Speaking on Critical Issue, Mr. Paul Boateng revealed that the problem has been in existence since 2006 and the national security protection by the government were not swift in handling the situation. “If a foreign government wanted to over throw our government, they would have succeeded,” he said.
According to him, an intelligence security system and intelligence led policing is a necessity every country in the 21st century must have. This he said, makes the country a step ahead of any criminal activity. He insisted that the Ghana’s Intelligence Service is not proactive, since investigations on issues are done after a mayhem have ensued in the country.
The Security and Intelligent Expert disclosed that brouhaha created by the secessionist group are factored around natural reserves and ethnic marginalization in the Volta Region. Yet, he said the factors mentioned are not as grievous as foreign support to the group.
He disclosed that prior to petitioning the United Nations (UN), the Western Togoland group had support from a country’s embassy situated in Ghana, without the knowledge of the intelligence community.
“Before the people (Western Togoland) petitioned the UN in 2017, some people in a country’s embassy in Ghana guided them to put words together. But, have you asked the intelligence community if they are aware of this? With the problem at hand, Ghanaians should not politicize the issue because, it is extremely serious.”
“Some leaders in government are behind this and even some men in uniform are in support of this group”, he opined. He argued that the impasse between the Western Togoland and the government should have been solved prior to today. Stating that, the inaction on the matter in 2017 has caused a grievous problem.
He shed light on the issue intimating that, if the problem is not attended to swiftly, the only way the impasse would be solved, will be by negotiating with the group. Even though some people have been arrested, the main persons behind the problem cannot be touched unless through negotiation.
Refuting claims that the government have failed Ghanaians, the Chairman of Interior and Defense Committee, Honorable Seth Acheampong, iterated that the President, Attorney General, Minister of National Security and the Speaker of Parliament have not slept on the matter.
Buttressing his claim, he intimated that the issue concerning the secessionist group is a work in progress. The security cannot disclose their investigation process because of the need to pick up every detail of fact findings and intelligence gathered.
However, he condemned actions taken by the secessionist group, Western Togoland to cause disunity in the country.
Meanwhile, the experts on the panel has urged universities to take up courses in security and intelligence to help equip individuals and institutions to combat crime and security issues.
It can be recalled that, members of the secessionist group in the early hours of Friday, 25th September, 2020, locked major entries into the Volta Region. Most passengers travelling to areas in the Volta Region including Tsopoli, Tefle and Juapong were left stranded as a result of the development.
The police had earlier urged persons travelling from Accra to Ho, Aveyime, Adidome, Mepe and Akuse, Sogahkope, and Aflao to be cautious on such roads due to heavy vehicular traffic.
One person was confirmed dead in attacks by the Western Togoland secessionists on Friday, 25th September, 2020. The deceased was a member of the Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF) who engaged in an exchange of gunfire with the joint security team which had been deployed to the region to restore calm
The secessionist group stated that, they want Volta Region to be an autonomous country known as Western Togoland.
