Crime

Another alleged member of separatist group remanded

A retired teacher, Euphemia Gborgbortsi, was on Friday put before the Ho Magistrate Court ‘One’ for her alleged complicity in the recent declaration of independence for the Volta and Oti regions by the separatist Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF).

The woman, 61, who is charged with treason felony, was not asked to enter a plea.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Rosemina Bani, told the court, presided over by Mr Robert Addo, that the accused who was resident at Wli, near Hohoe, was among those who played various roles at the durbar in Ho where the leader of the HSGF, Charles Kudzordzi proclaimed the ‘Republic of Western Togoland’ on November 16, this year.

The prosecution said that following the event, the police mounted a search for the HSGF activists, leading to the arrest of Gborgbortsi.

The court was told that the accused in her statement to the police did not deny her association with the HSGF, however, the accused said that she left the group for some time now, due to her inability to pay the membership dues regularly, the court further heard.

The prosecution quoted the accused as saying that, she honoured the invitation by the HSGF to the Ho durbar unaware of the independence declaration agenda.

The accused said that she thought the invitation to the gathering was purposely to discuss matters concerning dues payment, the prosecution added.

The court remanded the retired teacher into prison custody to appear again on December 4.

This brings to six the number of people facing trial, so far, in connection with the HSGF’s independence declaration.

Last week five people, including the pastor in-charge of the Believers Chapel International at Ho-Hliha, Godsfriend Edem Peter, 48, appeared before the court and were similarly remanded into prison custody.

The other accused persons are Mkpe Tornyi Kudjo, 61; Kofi Agbeko, 32; Agbenyega Akudzi, 54 and Kofi Ibrahim Tofa, 60.

The leader of the HSGF and two others, ‘Gbeku’ and George Nyakpo are on the run.

Meanwhile, Kudzordzi was seen on UTV on Saturday, during the morning newspaper review, re-affirming his stance on the secession.

He called on loyalists of the group to remain calm, even in the face of antagonism by the security agencies, and said that he was still in the country and not in exile.

“But human as we are, I will not surrender myself to the police, because I do not know what they will do with me,” he said.

Kudzordzi called on the police to release his wife and all those arrested in connection with the matter unconditionally.

FROM ALBERTO MARIO NORETTI, HO

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