The chiefs and people of the Gbi Traditional Area have condemned, in no uncertain terms, the activities of the Homeland Study Group Foundation seeking to declare the Volta Region as an independent state, and dissociate themselves from their conduct.
Speaking at a news conference at Hohoe yesterday, theChief of Gbi-Abansi, TogbeAdzimah V, said the traditional council and citizens of the area would not condone any act of illegality and vandalism being perpetuated by the group, which is also tarnishing the image of the Volta Region.
Togbe Adzimah stressed that the chiefs and people of Gbi Hohoe are Voltarains and Ghanaians, and for that matter, owe allegiance to no foreign power other than the government of Ghana.
According to him, his outfit decided to call the press conference because the activities of the group are becoming a threat to the Volta Region, and the country in general.
He, therefore, called on the government to deal with those behind the mayhem, since the road blocks they mounted in parts of the region were unnecessary
Togbe Adzimah said the plebiscite of 1956 had settled all issues, and that the chiefs and elders of Hohoewill not support any move to declare Volta Region an independent state.
Meanwhile, the National House of Chiefs (NHC) has also condemned the secession attempt in the Volta Region last Friday, and urged Ghanaians to support the government to ensure that those behind it have been brought to book.
Addressing an emergency meeting in Kumasi on Saturday, the President of the NHC, Togbe Afede XIV, said the development in the Volta Region requires the support of all Ghanaians to ensure that the situation did not escalate any further.
“This is something that I have never heard of in my several years in this country, and this is not something any of us must condone. This is something that we should all support the government to ensure that it is nipped in the bud, so that we can continue in peace as a nation, and of one people with a common destiny,” he said.
According to him, the Minister of National Security, Mr. Albert KanDapaah, spoke with him about what had happened, and that he had also made contact with some chiefs in the Volta Region about an appropriate response from the Volta Regional House of Chiefs.
“We are lucky to have the minister with us today, and he had earlier briefed members of the Standing Committee on these happenings, which the Standing Committee found very, very alarming,” Togbe Afede said.
Meanwhile, contrary to claims that the government failed to gather actionable intelligence on the recent secessionist resurgence, Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has said intelligence gathered by state agencies enabled the prevention of more dire attacks by the HSGF on Friday.
According to him, members of the Volta Separatist, the Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF), have been on the watch list of the security agencies and were being monitored from time to time.
Addressing journalists at the Minister’s press briefing in Accra on Sunday, September 27, 2020, Mr. Nkrumah noted that the government was taking steps to adequately deal with the threats from the separatist group.
“Government is taking steps to deal with threats of succession expressed by a group in the Volta Region and, in particular, the events of Friday, September 25 2020. Now, in recent months, the activities of this group has gained notoriety, even as government has been responding with appropriate force and the rule of law. The events on Friday morning have been, as at now, contained by the security agencies. Efforts are also underway to contain our standing threats from this group,” he said.
However, reacting to the matter, the Minister condemned the act and called on all traditional, religious and political institutions to join hands to help combat the separatist activities, even as the government initiates measures to bring the situation under full control.
“We continue to encourage all well-meaning Ghanaians, especially traditional religious and political groups, to express solidarity with the Republic and join in the efforts of holding the One Nation agenda, while condemning these unfortunate developments.
“Now, while the security agencies maintain a presence to avert any further developments, it will also be important to, in the coming days, provide more education, for example, on the false basis for which the persons who are leading these exercises sort to mobilise support.
“Key actors who have been identified as ultimately responsible for these events are also on the watch list of the security agencies, and actually wanted at this point in time. In the coming days, the security agencies would, I think, be publishing some of the photographs and identities of persons who they are on a manhunt for.
“Residents of these areas are encouraged to remain calm and to go about their daily lives without fear,” he added.
Story by Samuel Agbewode &Richard Owusu-Akyaw
The post Volta chiefs, National House of Chiefs condemn secession attempt appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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