Lawyer Theophilus Donkor, the lawyer for the 31 alleged secessionists who are currently in the custody of the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI), says his clients are not members and have no affiliation with any secessionist group.
He said that, his clients were random and innocent residents of the region who were merely present at the scene of the incident when the joint police-military security force rounded them up on suspicion of their involvement in the disturbances on Friday 25th September 2020 and have been arraigned before court on three counts.
He added that, his clients were in no way affiliated to the secessionist groups; had not been recruited and undergone training in any form.
Speaking in an interview, lawyer for the accused persons said that, the Ghana Police Service erred in the arrest of the 31 suspected secessionists.
He said, the arrested persons, although were present at the scene were travelling. He said at the time they arrested them; all the people who were alleged to have belonged to the secessionist group have left the scene.
“Some of them were travelling from the Ashiaman to the Volta Region and some moving from the Volta Region to Accra amongst others when they were arrested.”
He further added that no offensive weapon was found on any of the arrested persons at the time of their arrest.
“If you were in court today, you will know that some of these accused persons cannot even kill a fly”
He also said that, some of those arrested were Nigerians and no Togolese was involved adding that, they do not know each other.
He also revealed that his clients were not being given the appropriate treatment but authorities have however ordered for them to be given the basic necessities and his clients are also appealing to given back their liberty in order to resume their work activities I order to feed their families.
Mr Donkor revealed that, the prosecution in court on Monday admitted that the Accra High Court has no jurisdiction over the matter as the incident occurred in the Volta Region.
The court proceedings have been adjourned to the 13th of October, 2020 after prosecutors have managed to gather enough evidence to charge the alleged secessionists.
Secessionist, members of the Western Togoland Restoration Front, are reported to have blocked major roads in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region and launched a simultaneous attack on two police stations in the towns of Mepe and Aveyime, ransacking their armory and taking into custody 3 police officers on Friday 25th September 2020.
Reports have it that, this was done in an attempt to proclaim their sovereignty and demand that the government of Ghana recognize them as an independent state.
The Ghana Police Service after some hours was able to bring the situation under control and arrested about 31 suspected secessionists, with two persons dying in a shoot-out with the security forces.
