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Bawumia rules out negotiation with Western Togoland rebels

Dr Bawumia dismisses the idea of negotiation with the Western Togoland rebels following disturbances by the group in the Volta Region

The vice-president of the Republic of Ghana, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, has ruled out any negotiation between the government and the Western Togoland rebels following disturbances by the group in the Volta Region.

He was answering a question on Asempa FM about whether the government is open to negotiation with the rebels, following calls by security experts for the government to talk with them.

“With whom, these criminals? On what basis?” he asked. ‘‘It will open [the country] for anything. Tomorrow, some group will get up and say the Northern Territory would have to be somewhere else.

“It just doesn’t make sense. What we need is intelligence – and we will try to deal with this,” he said.

“We are an envy of this part of the world. In Africa, our democracy [and] peace is the envy of Africa and I think we shouldn’t allow a few criminals to come and jeopardise that.

“What they are looking for does not exist, it’s [a] figment of their imagination,” Dr Bawumia told Philip Osei Bonsu, the host of Asempa’s Eko Sii Sen.

Call for citizens’ support

The vice-president urged Ghanaians to provide the security services with the intelligence they need to flush out the rebels and fix the problem.

“We in Ghana need [to be united, because this] is not a partisan matter. We need unity across all regions, tribes and religions. We need to talk and provide the necessary intelligence to the security services so that we can act [and] protect our country.’’

Dr Bawumia is on a four-day tour of the Greater Accra Region canvassing for votes in the 7 December presidential and parliamentary elections.

Background

On Friday (25 September), the Western Togoland Movement launched attacks on the Aveyime and Mepe police stations in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region, as well as in Asutuare and Atimpoku in the neighbouring Eastern Region.

The secessionists had ordered all members of the security services to leave the “homeland” within 24 hours and not attempt to take any arms or ammunition with them.

They also mounted roadblocks amid firing of gunshots, prompting joint police and military action.

On Monday (28 September), the rebels launched another attack on the STC Coaches yard in the Volta Region.

The attackers reportedly set ablaze an STC minibus. They also beat up drivers who were passing the night in the yard.

Fred Dzakpata

* Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online.
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
#asaaseradio  #TVOL

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