Pius Hadzide, a deputy Information Minister, has disclosed government’s resolve to engage traditional leaders in the Volta Region in order to address threats posed by secessionists groups in the region.
In an interview, Mr. Hadzide stated that the initial engagement between high-profiled government delegation and the Volta Regional House of Chiefs on Friday in Ho was successful as the chiefs were happy about the engagements.
He further expressed government’s heartfelt warmth, the continual support and cooperation of the chiefs and other leaders in the efforts to quell the group’s activities.
“We expressed government’s appreciation of the cooperation and support. We again seized the opportunity to assure them that government is interested in a continuous cooperation between our traditional leaders and the political leadership so we are available and open for engagement as and when”.
Additionally, the Minister posited that the government is hopeful of a continual engagement with leaders in the Region on the matter.
“Not only are we calling for their cooperation, we actually avail ourselves for these kinds of engagements and they were quite excited and happy that government is moving to forge a close partnership with them”.
Earlier, addressing the press after a crunch meeting between the National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah, the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, and the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) on the developments in the region, Mr. Hadzide had revealed that, “so far, 60 suspected criminals have been arrested.”
“54 [out of the 60 suspects] have been remanded and the rest being processed for court.”
According to him, the 60 are suspected members of the separatist movement challenging the secession of parts of Ghana to form an independent country called Western Togoland.
Mr. Hadzide, coupled with expressing government’s intention to engage leaders indicated that security agencies have been deployed to some key parts of the Volta and Oti region to beef up security in that part of the country.
“The House [of Chiefs] and delegation also agreed that continuous dialogue and collaboration between government, chiefs, and security forces are crucial in the fight ahead”.
He disclosed that the heavy deployment of these forces could be seen at Juapong, Aflao, Kpando, Hohoe, in the Volta region, Kete-Krachi and Kpassa in the Oti Region.
However, Alavanyo and Nkonya that already had security concerns have been subjected to review due to the exigencies of the times.
He said officers and other security men were currently on standby awaiting deployment to other areas to quell any further disturbances from any secessionist group.
“Deployments have been made according to the strategy that the security is using to deal with the unfortunate and criminal event. Deployments have so far been made to Juapong, Hohoe, Aflao, Nkonya-Alavanyo, Kpando, Kpasa, and Kete-Krachi in the Oti Region. There have already been deployments in Kpassa, Kete-Krachi, and Nkonya-Alavanyo but these have been reviewed to deal with the current threats.”
He added, “government is unwilling to dialogue with unknown criminals,” stating that there are enough security men and women on the ground to safeguard the peace of everybody.
