Compromised Spaces: In Western Togoland, HSGF President Granted Bail, Seven Others Remanded
In May 2019, the leader of Western Togoland’s “Homeland Study Group Foundation” (HSGF), Mr. Charles Kormi Kudzodzi, was released on bail after being arrested on charges of conspiracy. He and seven others had been surprised by the police while allegedly plotting to declare the region’s independence on May 9th. The HSGF represents the movement for self-determination and independence of Western Togoland from Ghana and has been peacefully campaigning for its rights since its foundation in 1994.
The article below was published by GhanaWeb:
An Accra High Court 2 has granted a bail in the sum of GH¢250,000 to Mr. Charles Kormi Kudzodzi, the 80-year-old [founder of the] Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF), championing the partitioning of the Volta Region as an independent state.
He was granted the bail with two sureties one of whom should be justified to an amount of GH¢250000 for him to report two times to the investigators Mondays and Thursdays.
The other seven including; Besa Amedeus Akorli, Blay Kaku Freeman, Nkpe Tornye Kudjo, Thomson Tsigbe, Agbenyega Akudzi, Dzereke Kofi and Benjamin Agbodzagah were remanded into Prison custody to reappear on May 22, 2019 [see article below for updates].
All eight are facing charges of conspiracy to commit crime and treason felony contrary to section 23(1) and 182 (b) of the Criminal offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
The court presided by Justice Jostice Jerome Noble-Nkrumah, Mrs. Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe and HL Justice Charles Edward Ekpw Baiden remanded the seven after the prosecution opposed bail on the grounds that the case was still under investigation and that the Accused persons have been bonded before and that they intended to proclaim independence on May, 9, 2019.
The eight, including the leader Mr. Charles Kormi Kudzodzi (popularly known as Papa Hogbedetor), were arrested last Sunday evening [May 5th, 2019] during a gathering that George Nyakpo revealed to be a consultative meeting ahead of the declaration of the Western Togoland as an Independent State on Thursday May 9, 2019.
Police confirmed that the suspects were arrested and airlifted via a chopper to Accra and were arraigned before court on Wednesday May 8, 2019.
Mr Kudzordzi who is over 80 and claims to have the history of the plebiscite that added Volta Region to Ghana at his fingertips, has championed the independence of Volta region from present day Ghana.
UPDATE
The article below was published by My Joy Online:
An Accra High Court on Thursday [June 6th, 2019] granted bail to the eight [seven] remaining people claiming to secede part of a Western Togoland as an independent state from Ghana, in the sum of GH¢100,000 each with two sureties each all to be justified.
The 85-year-old Chairman of the so-called Homeland Study Group Foundation, Mr Charles Kormi Kudjordji, was also granted bail by the same court in the sum of GH¢250,000.00 with two sureties, one to be justified.
Earlier, Mr A.T.P Akaba, the lead Counsel for the accused persons, prayed the court for bail which was not opposed by Mr Fred Awindago, a State Attorney.
The Nine [eight] were arrested by a combined team of police and military personnel at Ho- Sunday, May 5- in a house, while holding a meeting to allegedly to arrange to declare a Western Togoland as an independent state on May 9, 20I9.
The accused are Mr Bisa Akorli, 54, Mr Kofi Dzereke, 39, Mr Thompson Tsigbe, 58, Mr Benjamin Agbadzada, 48, Mr Agbenyega Akudzi, 54, Mr Freemen Blikaku, 36, and Mr Nkpe Tsryiri Kudzo aged 61.
Photo courtesy of My Joy Online
