Western Togoland

Western Togoland (French: Togoland occidental) is an area de jure in the Republic of Ghana. The area of Western Togoland is divided into five regions: Volta, Oti, Northern region, North East region and Upper East Region. In September 2020 separatists in Western Togoland declared independence from the Republic of Ghana.[2][3]

Western Togoland[1]

Togoland occidental
Western Togoland (purple) within Ghana
StatusRegion
LargestHo
Official languagesEnglish
Recognised national languagesFrench
Recognised regional languagesGerman, Ewe, Dangme, Avatime, Tafi, Logba
Area
 
20,550 km2 (7,930 sq mi)
Proposed independence flag for Western Togoland being used by separatists

Western Togoland has been a member state of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) since 2017.[4]

History

The German Empire established the Togoland protectorate in 1884. Under German administration, the protectorate was regarded as a model colony or Musterkolonie and experienced a golden age.[5] During the First World War in 1914, Britain and France invaded the protectorate. After the German defeat and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, the western part of Togoland became a British mandate, British Togoland.

After the Second World War British Togoland became a United Nations Trust Territory that was under British administration.

In 1957 the Western Togolese voted in a plebiscite to become part of what is now Ghana.[6][7]

On May 9 2017, the Homeland Study Group Foundation (French: Fondation du Groupe d'étude de la Patrie) unsuccessfully tried to declare the independence of Western Togoland.

On May 7, 2019, the national executive of the Volta separatist group, Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF/FGEP), Emmanuel Agbavor has rejected claims that the group had a militia.[8]

On September 25, 2020, secessionists demanded that Ghanaian Security forces leave the Volta Region after attacking several police stations in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region. In a press statement declaring their secession from Ghana, the Homeland Study Group Foundation under the leadership of Charles Kormi Kudzordz declared sovereignty over the area.[9][10] The Government of Ghana did not take the declaration seriously, viewing it as a "joke", although prominent security expert Adib Sani urged the government to treat the issue as a national security risk.[10]

There have been injuries and deaths in the clash(es) following the declaration of independence[11] though the Republic of Ghana claims to have gained intel on those clashes before they occurred.[12]

Ghanaian sources claim the secessionist group heading the independence movement, the Homeland Study Group, is under control.[13] However, the secessionists took over arms and set up road blockades.[14] The president of the Republic of Ghana has denied negotiating with the secessionists.[15]

Demographics

About 4 million people live in Western Togoland. Languages of Western Togoland include French, Ewe, Dangme, and English.

The main religions are Christianity, Islam, Afá, and Voodoo and the majority of the people in this region are Ewés.

See also

References

  1. "The State of Western Togoland". Peoples' Liberation Council of Western Togoland. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  2. Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "Ghana's Western Togoland region declares sovereignty | DW | 25.09.2020". DW.COM. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  3. "Western Togoland suspected separatists fresh attack for Ghana". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  4. "UNPO - Members". unpo.org. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
  5. Zimmerman, Andrew (2012-05-27). Alabama in Africa: Booker T. Washington, the German Empire, and the Globalization of the New South. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-15586-9.
  6. "UNPO: Western Togoland". unpo.org.
  7. "Ghana - THE COLONIAL ERA: BRITISH RULE OF THE GOLD COAST". countrystudies.us. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  8. "We have no militia - Western Togoland independence 'fighters'". Citi Newsroom. 2019-05-07. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  9. "Western Togoland: Secessionists order Ghana Security forces out of Volta Region". My Joy Online. 2020-09-25. Retrieved 2020-09-08.
  10. "98.9FMWhy Ghana must not laugh off Western Togoland secessionist movement - Security Expert reveals". Ghana Web. 29 September 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  11. "One dead, two injured after 'Western Togolanders' capture of Juapong". www.ghanaweb.com. 2020-09-25. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
  12. "Government's intelligence claim on Volta separatist attack false – Security Analyst". www.ghanaweb.com. 2020-09-29. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
  13. emmakd (2020-09-26). "One dead, three injured in Volta Region secessionist disturbance". Ghana Business News. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
  14. Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "Ghana's Western Togoland region declares sovereignty | DW | 25.09.2020". DW.COM. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  15. "Secessionists Attacks: Government will not negotiate with criminals - Bawumia". MyJoyOnline.com. 2020-09-30. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
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