The government has deployed more security personnel to parts of the Volta Region as it intensifies measures to deal with threats of secessionism.

The Deputy Information Minister, Mr Pius Enam Hadzide, who announced this at a press conference in Ho yesterday, said the personnel had been deployed to Juapong, Hohoe, Aflao, Kpando, Alavanyo, Nkonya, Kpassa and Kete-Krachi in the Oti Region, in reaction to the recent threat posed by the separatists.

The press conference followed a meeting of a high-powered government delegation with key stakeholders in the region, including members of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs and the Regional Security Council.

The over four-hour meeting held behind closed doors amid heavy security was part of the delegation’s working visit to the region to apprise itself of the current security situation and to also interact with the stakeholders on how to deal with the matter.

The government delegation included the Minister of Defence, Mr Dominic Nitiwul; the Minister of National Security, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah; the Minister for the Interior, Mr Ambrose Dery; the Energy Minister, Mr John-Peter Amewu; the Deputy Information Minister, Mr Pius Hadzide, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mr Kofi Dzameshie.

The rest are the Minister of Regional Reorganisation and Development, Mr Dan Botwe; Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, and his Deputy, Rev. Johnson Avuletey.

More arrests

Mr Hadzide informed the media that 60 suspected criminals had been arrested in connection with the arson, road blocks and other disturbances, with 54 of them remanded, while the rest were being processed for court.

He said the Volta Regional House of Chiefs was unanimous in denouncing and condemning the attacks by the separatists, including setting a bus belonging to the State Transport Company (STC) ablaze in Ho.

The chiefs, he said, affirmed their commitment to one united sovereign Ghana.

“The house and the delegation agreed that continuous dialogue and collaboration between the government and our chiefs and the security forces are crucial in the fight ahead,” Mr Hadzide added.

Some journalists asked questions about some concerns by the chiefs about factors which could have led to the current situation in the region, such as the negative tag of people from the region as non-Ghanaians.

In response, the Deputy Information Minister said all the concerns of the chiefs had been addressed to their satisfaction.

He also called on the media not to give ‘oxygen’ to individuals who engaged in any form of criminality against the state.

Secessionists are criminals

On the issue of holding a dialogue with the secessionist groups, Mr Hadzide said the government considered the groups as criminals and would never engage them.

“This is a criminal activity that involves arson, blocking of roads, illegal gathering, training in military skills and tactics which are all offences under the laws of the land and it will be irresponsible for the state to be engaging with criminals. They would be seen and treated as criminals,” the deputy minister stressed.

He, however, said individuals who had concerns about certain issues could be engaged to see what the issues were and address them but criminals would not be engaged at the negotiating table.

Professionalism

Mr Hadzide assured the people of the region that the security personnel would conduct their duties professionally and would ensure that innocent people did not find themselves at the wrong side of the law.

False allegations

Dr Letsa, who has been accused of being a financier of the secessionist group, used the platform to debunk those allegations, stating that he had nothing to do with the secessionists, and that the allegations were false.

Explaining further, he said his 34 years in public service, as a businessman and a politician in the region, had made him a known name and as such did not come as a surprise that certain people would want to link him to those groups for their selfish interest.

The minister, who described their conduct as a defamation of character, threatened to take legal action against those peddling the falsehood for making the claims which he described as unsubstantiated.

“Appropriate action will be taken by my lawyers if I’m so advised,” Dr Letsa stated.

Media cautioned

He said it was unprofessional for the media to engage criminals and give them the platform to operate and warned the media to desist from such engagements as they would be taken on by the police.

Dr Letsa reiterated his commitment to the President and the country, declaring “My loyalty to them is 100 per cent.”