Twenty six alleged secessionists arrested in connection with the activities of the Western Togoland disturbance, have now been charged with treason felony.
The accused are said to have on September 25, this year in the Volta Region, prepared to carry out an unlawful means and enterprise to usurp the executive powers of the Republic.
In an amended charge sheet, they are also facing charges of conspiracy, participating in campaign of a prohibited organisations namely Western Togoland, conspiracy to causing unlawful damage, causing unlawful damage, stealing, rioting with weapons.
According to the various lawyers, their clients had not been fed well whiles in custody and some of the accused persons had serious health issues as they had been denied the right to take their medication.
The lawyers also said that, their clients were mostly bread winners of their families and appealed to the Court to admit their clients to bail so that they could seek health care, adding that they would not hamper investigations.
Also speaking on the issue, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sylvester Asare informed the Court that it lacked the jurisdiction to grant bail to the accused persons following the new charges.
ASP Asare said that, the Police had complied with the orders of the Court including giving the accused access to their lawyers and relations.
According to prosecution, the Police had also been taking some of the accused persons who sustained gunshot wounds to the hospital.
The Court presided over by Mrs. Rosemary Baah Torsu, in her ruling, declined bail, saying it also lacked the jurisdiction to grant bail and adjourned the case to November.
In a related development also, some 51 alleged secessionists were discharged by the court. However, soon after their discharge, they were re-arrested and charged with treason felony among others and are set to reappear on November 4.
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 armoury and taking into custody 3 police officers , released inmates in custody, physically assaulted and injured 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.
Although it was a hurdle getting the perpetrators, 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.
Also, a joint police and military enforcement team rescued the police officers who were held hostage.
The group also launched an attack on the State Transport Union Yard where they destroyed and burnt an STC vehicle and attacked the drivers who were in the yard.
