Five members of the Homeland Study Group who were standing trial at the High Court in Accra, Criminal Division, for fighting for the secession of the Volta Region, have been sentenced.

The five were sentenced to a total of 25 years in prison on Tuesday, 21 March 2023.

They were convicted on Friday, 17 March 2023, after they were found guilty of offences contrary to the Prohibited Organisations Act 1976 (Supreme Military Council Decree/SMCD20).

They were convicted on four charges including “Attending meetings of a prohibited organisation contrary to Section 2(1)(b) of SMCD 20; Making contributions to the funds of a prohibited organisation contrary to Section 2(1)(g) of SMCD 20; Participating in the campaign of a prohibited organisation contrary to section 2(1)(d) of SMCD 20 and Being a member of a prohibited organisation contrary to section 2(1)(i) of SMCD 20.

Ebenezer Gblorkpor- first accused, who was found guilty and convicted on counts one, two, and four has been sentenced to five years in prison in hard labour, while Afetorgbor Kpogo-second accused was found guilty and convicted on the first count only, and sentenced to five years in prison with hard labour.

Joseph Nyamewu-third accused, Wisdom Kuvor-fourth accused, and Israel Bessah-fifth accused were found guilty and convicted on counts three and four.

All three were sentenced to five years in prison with hard labour.

The five were arrested when the group blocked major entries into the Volta Region.

The group mounted the blockade on Friday dawn, 25 September 2020.

Nobody at the time could enter or leave the Volta region.

The Western Togolanders, a successionist group, insisted the Volta Region, which they refer to as Western Togoland, was not legally part of Ghana.

They declared the Volta Region an independent state.

The five were arrested in September 2020.