Six individuals belonging to two secessionist groups in the Volta Region have been sentenced to jail terms by an Accra High Court.
They were found guilty of being members of prohibited organisations, attending and participating in meetings of prohibited organisations, and accepting contributions from a prohibited organisation in Mepe, Battor, and Juapong.
The two prohibited organisations involved were the Homeland Study Group Foundation and the Western Togoland Restoration Front (WTRF).
Gabriel Godfred Govina, a retired teacher, has been sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of $3,600 or serve three months in prison if he fails to pay.
Benjamin Gbadago has been sentenced to 24 months in prison and a fine of GHC2,400 or four months in default.
Cephas Zodanu, who served as a Secretary of WTRF and accepted various contributions from members, has been sentenced to three years imprisonment and a fine of GHC2,400. If Zodanu fails to pay the fine, he will serve an additional five months in prison.
Roland Ametepey has been sentenced to three years imprisonment and fined GHc2,400. In default of the fine, he will also serve four months in prison.
Cosmos Havor, also known as Togbe Adzaklo, a traditional ruler, has been sentenced to 24 months in prison and fined GHC4,800.
Vincent Ramseyer Atsu-Gadey has been sentenced to six months in prison.
He, along with five others, had previously been found guilty and were held in custody until their sentencing today.
However, four of the accused, namely John Gbedemah, Godwin Awudza, Excel Liberty Aheto Kuegbesika, and Divine Nyadzinyor, were acquitted by the court.
The sentencing took into account the pleas from the defence counsels, the fact that the accused had no prior criminal records, and the fact that some had already served time in jail.
The presiding Judge, Mrs Justice Mary Ekue Nyanzuh, expressed disappointment in the behaviour of the accused, stating that they should have known better given their positions, and that their actions had caused public concern.
The convicted individuals had blocked roads with sand, cement blocks, and logs on September 25, 2020, in the early morning, and had set fire to tires, causing inconvenience to motorists.
Additionally, some of them had attacked the Aveyime and Mepe Police Stations, holding officers and their families hostage, releasing inmates from cells, and breaking into the Armory, stealing weapons and ammunition belonging to the Ghana Police Station.
