Western Togoland Secessionists Block Entry Points to Volta Region of Ghana

Lake Volta and surrounding settlements in Ghana have been the site of numerous attacks by secessionists.

The Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF), a separatist group in the Volta region of Ghana, blocked access to the administrative region on September 25. The move aimed to bolster residents’ support for the secession of the region, which separatists refer to as Western Togoland.

Before the blockade, HSGF reportedly broke into a local armory and stole weapons, then hoisted Western Togoland flags, attacked two police stations, and held three police officers hostage, including a District Commander.

A few weeks prior to the blockade, HSGF mounted signs along major roads in the region welcoming people to Western Togoland State. Reports of other incidents, such as the blockage of roads with heaps of sand or burning tires, and the hostage-taking of security personnel, have also emerged.

Ghanaian security agencies have the HSGF noted on watch lists due to previous secession attempts. Volta regional police arrested members of the group in March 2017 for employing similar secession tactics. Likewise, in May 2019, police arrested seven members of HSGF in Ho, the capital of the Volta Region, and charged them with treason. By this time, they had developed a constitution, a national emblem, and had even composed an anthem. They had planned on declaring independence on May 9, but the police arrested them before they could do so. 

An article from the Ghanaian Times reports that key actors involved in the September 25 incident found themselves placed on security agencies’ watchlists and remained wanted persons. Ghanaian security agencies will publish photographs of those still at large in due time. 

During a media conference on September 27, Ghanaian Minister of Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah dispelled rumors that the government had masterminded the unrest. Nkrumah condemned the acts of HSGF and called on “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.”