Accra High Court has sentenced two Police Inspectors to a combined total of nine years in prison for their involvement with the Western Togo Restoration Front (WTRF), a secessionist and banned organization in Ghana.
Billy Akuaku, who financially supported another group called the Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF), received a five-year prison sentence and a GH¢6,000 fine. Failure to pay the fine would result in an additional five months in prison for Akuaku.
Gabriel Dorduno, also a financial contributor to the HSGF, was sentenced to four years in prison and fined GH¢3,600. If Dorduno did not pay the fine, he would serve an extra three months in prison.
His sentence was given in absentia.
These sentences were issued after Judge Mary Yanzuh found both men guilty at the conclusion of their trial. The charges included membership in banned organizations, namely the WTRF and HSGF, and making contributions to these groups.
Akuaku faced an additional charge for accepting financial contributions from members of the Homeland Study Group Foundation’s Jasikan Branch.
The court justified the harsh sentences, stating that as members of the security service, the defendants should have protected the Ghana Police Service and the country rather than leaking information.
The prosecution argued that based on intelligence gathered by the National Security Council, an operation was conducted to identify and arrest WTRF members.
These members had blocked the highway in Juapong and Sogakope and set fire to two STC vehicles on September 25, 2022.
The prosecution said that during investigations into the activities of the banned organization, the investigation team discovered a WhatsApp group platform with the “SEC ADMI”, a group created by high-ranking members of the organization to discuss security-related issues. .
In addition, the prosecution told the court that further investigation revealed that some members of the group were security personnel, including those charged here.
The prosecution said the now-convicted accused were also found to be members of the two WhatsApp platforms of the Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF), namely “Psalm 21” and “HSGF”.
According to the prosecution, Akuaku was arrested on March 7, 2021, and taken to his residence in Adzogekope. During the search of his room, the investigation team discovered eight WTRF membership cards, one of which was issued in his name.
Additionally, they found a notebook containing financial records of members from the Jasikan branch of WTRF, along with a list of executive members titled “Upper Lake-Oti Provincial Executive Committee”.
On the same day, the investigation team proceeded to Dordonu’s residence, where they found a WTRF membership card, a notebook labeled “Funeral Contribution”, and a mobile phone.
Subsequently, the station officer informed Dordonu to appear before the Director of the Intelligence Unit at the CID headquarters. Dordonu complied on April 8, 2021, and was subsequently arrested.
During interrogation, Akuaku admitted to being a member of HSGF. In Dordonu’s case, he acknowledged ownership of the notebook found in his room but denied possession of the WTRF membership card.
The prosecution detailed that according to the notebook labeled “HSGF JAS BRANCH” found in Akuaku’s room, he had made monthly contributions of GH¢10 each for September and October to HSGF.
Furthermore, it was revealed that Akuaku had contributed GH¢150, while Dordonu had contributed GH¢100 to HSGF.
