I have written extensively on this Western Togoland matter in The Chronicle and opened up the minds of Ghanaians, especially those in authority, to the dangers posed by activities of the secessionists, and acted accordingly to bring up a peaceful resolution to the problem. My recommended solution is to allow the secessionists to secede, because the issue has gained grounds in the minds of most people in Wedome and some other parts of the Volta Region. At the time this thing came up in 2017, education and the history of the area should have been made known to all Ghanaians. It is very surprising to note that a lot of Ghanaians are not aware of the truth, and some, out of ignorance, even sympathise with the secessionists.
The danger was very real when on an Old School WhatsApp group platform, some mates who we all thought could have been intelligent enough, as is always the case of students who pass through that school, to do further checks, rather attempted pushing us to believe that Ghana is not obeying a UN resolution which mandated the union with British Togoland to cease after fifty years. Mates like Adolf Bestway Zottor could boldly campaign for secession on our platform and had support from one or two others. It is not surprising that Adolf has entered the books of this nation for all the wrong reasons, and could it be surprising that the secessionists chose Tongu, where Adolf Bestway Zottor comes from, to attack and kill fellow Ewes, who are innocent, peaceful and law abiding?
It is very worrying that it was only after a warning and disassociation by the Anlos through Togbui Siri that the Volta Regional House of Chiefs came out to condemn the actions of the secessionists, and where is Togbe Afede and why is he silent while his own are attacking his own? What about the queenmothers of the region, and what about the Parliamentary Caucus? Hon Okudzeto-Ablakwa is the only lone voice we hear.
The other day, I gave a brief history of the area under discussion to some people who became shocked that things should turn this way. My outspoken desire to unearth the truth and bring it to the notice of all had earned me bad names and even death threats from some Ewe youth who have been made to understand that seceding from Ghana is the right decision to take. And most Ewes believe they have the strength and what it takes to subdue the entire country of Ghana in warfare if the demands of the secessionists are not granted.
War is not the answer, and if even they offer it, they should know the consequences and take time off their barbaric acts and study what is happening in the Middle East and what happened and is happening in South Sudan.
The Fearless Ewes: The idea has been sunk into the minds of most Ewes that they are a group of fearless warriors who have never lost any war before. Historical data disputes this. In 1707, the Akwamus crossed the Volta River into Eweland and conquered Ho, Kpando and Peki and established their sovereignty there. In 1783, the Anlos lost the war against the Danes, as well as their sovereignty, when they agreed in a peace treaty not to trade with any other European nation, and not to let their canoes go to sea. They permitted the Danes to build their fortress in Anlo. In 1829 and 1831, Awudome and Nyive attempted to oust the Akwamus, but lost both wars. Victory, however, came in 1833 from an onslaught led by Peki. The German came and abducted the Anehor Chief so as to have a hold on the Ewes, and in 1894, the resistance against the Germans by Kpando and surrounding towns was crushed, with the towns razed to the ground, properties confiscated, and people fined between 200 and 1,100 marks.
Harsh treatments by the Germans, which included brutalities of flogging and labour without pay, were visited on the Wedome Ewes. Most of them fled the German colony to settle in Somanya and Mampong in the British colony of the Gold Coast.
Lately, in 1957, the secessionists went up in arms against the new nation with the hope of stopping the independence process. Fully armed, they went along killing their own, but what happened? They never won that war. War is not the answer.
Meanwhile, the Asantes and other ethnic groups have been acknowledged as warrior states, with the Asantes having running battles with the British, winning some and losing some.
Technically, How Expansive Is Western Togoland? If the secessionists truly have a case, then which areas can they claim to be their land? It cannot be the Oti Region and those parts of Northern Ghana which were once part of British Togoland, because these people voted to be in union with Ghana and have never said throughout these past sixty-four years that they want to get out of the Union. The secessionists attempted to convince those up North to join them when they went to the Yaa-Naa, but were flatly turned down and thrown out of the Gbewa Palace. One would have expected them to go attacking those areas as they are doing in Juapong, Mepe, Aveyime and Sogakope. But, of course, they know the consequences; that the Ewes-Never-Lose-Wars perception cannot manifest there.
The only place they rightfully have to secede from Ghana to become an independent nation is the Wedome area, comprising a little over 4,000 square kilometres.
Proceeding in mounting their signposts in other ethnic groups’ lands is an act of aggression, and sooner than later, these ethnic groups will be up in arms and an ethnic war will begin in Ghana.
Problems Arising: The problem at hand looked more like the tip of an iceberg. These people are provoking other ethnic groups in these attacks in areas like Akwamu and Dangbe, if this is not checked it will travel through to other parts of the country close by.
This error preached to and fully accepted by the Ewe youth is creating problems to Ewes themselves. Now we see Ewes taking over some towns that do not belong to that ethnic group. The image of Ewes will soon turn from law-abiding citizens to law breakers and terrorists. And sooner than later, Ewes could be evicted from their settlements on other ethnic groups’ lands like the Kwahus, Asantes, Akyem, Akwapem, Dagbon, Gonja and even Gas and Fantes, and these groups will be justified, because it could be possible that fifty years on the Ewes will lay claim that the lands are ethnically their own.
And as it is now, the impression is being created that the government is behind this, what with the Volta Regional Minister accused of being a financier of the secessionists. This needs to be further proven, because someone wants to take advantage of this situation. But could it be more ethnic, because it was only when an Akan man was head of state, referring to Gen Acheampong, that these secessionists were bold enough to demand to be given independence. For the whole of Rawlings’ nineteen years as head of state, we heard nothing from them. They made some attempts during Kufuor’s regime, which were cooled off. During the Mills/Mahama regime, one group, the Homeland Group Study Foundation, actually registered at the Registrar General to do business and they started full business only when Nana Addo became President. What is actually going on here?
Also their method of recruiting unsuspecting youth is not right. Going on social media to post recruitment adverts of the police and army, when these institutions have not made such moves, is criminal as deceitful. The youth of Ghana must know that the genuine adverts for recruitments will only appear in the Graphic and the Times newspapers.
Solution to the Problem: The problem can be solved peacefully by getting all involved at the negotiation table. If they insist that they prefer where the Germans put them, that demand should be met, but mind you, they cannot drag the other ethnic groups who voted to be in union with Ghana away with them. They should be content with their a little over 4,000 square kilometres, and if they are accepted by Togo, then all the best, if not too, all the best, because they will not be the smallest country in the world. They can survive as any of those countries are surviving.
Conclusion: What we must avoid here in Ghana is a Palestinian situation, where a small group of people will lead us to start killing ourselves. Those who will benefit most will be the Whites who will sell arms and ammunitions to us to kill ourselves, and then turn round to call us barbaric people.
The White man has done enough harm already by splitting us up and putting siblings in different countries, and then even those of us within one country, he succeeded in planting the destructive seeds of ethnocentrism so that we fight each other while he watches on with great satisfaction, dividing and ruling us.
We must all wake up and appreciate the fact that God, in His wisdom, put us here to be together, and we can only thank Him by loving one another.
In all this, Ghana must act like the father of the prodigal son and allow the Wedome people to go. May be, they too, one day, will come back.
Hon Daniel Dugan
The post Western Togoland, a Palestine in Ghana? (2) appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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