I have always anticipated that this Western Togoland issue would never be laid to rest, until a lasting solution is implemented. This is sad because, those who know better are out there boldly misleading the Wedome Ewes into believing that they can secede to form their own country.
We have elders who were around in May 1956, coming out and lying to the younger generation that their land was illegally usurped by Ghana, when it was a majority decision by a Plebiscite that made British Togoland to join Ghana in a union.
The Plebiscite took place on May 9, 1956 and it was on a simple issue, a vote forthe Union of Togoland under British administration with an Independent Gold Coast or forthe Separation of Togoland under British administration from the Gold Coast and its Continuance under Trusteeship, pending the Ultimate determination of its Political Future. Out of 160,587 valid votes cast, 93,095 were in favour of a union with Ghana, while 67,492 preferred the second option.
While the northern districts, made up of Mamprusi, Dagomba, Gonja and Buem/Krachivoted to join Ghana, the southerners, made up of Kpando and Ho, who were Ewes voted against the union. To this day, they have been propagating all manner of untruths to achieve their selfish hearts’ desires. Why did they accept to vote at the Plebiscite but turn away when the results did not favour them?
Let us see whether this makes sense by comparing it with this scenario. In 1992, Ghana went into a general election to elect a president and MPs. It was a two-horse presidential race between the NDC’s Jerry John Rawlings and the NPP’s Prof. Adu Boahen. Ashanti region was the only region that voted for the NPP candidate. Would Ghanaians accept it if Ashanti region decided to secede, because it did not vote for Jerry Rawlings? This is what Kosi Kedem and the Northern Ewes are up to.
During the previous administration, some people from that part of former British Togoland, led by an old man, Charles KormiKudzodzi and his Homeland Study Group Foundation, formed a new nation, Western Togoland and declared independence in 2020. This was followed by a declaration of war on Ghana, when they attacked police stations and seized arms and ammunition. Many youths were enrolled into the Western Togoland army and trained in secluded areas.
On June 9, 2025, the media came out that Hon Kosi Kedem, a former MP for Hohoe, wrote to the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) and laid claims indicating that the Ewes were unfairly treated during the 1956 Plebiscite. And as is always the case with these Western Togolanders, some untruths were screwed in.
The former MP, who is 80 years old, was eleven when the 1956 Plebiscite took place and I guess he was in school by that time and should have known more about the plebiscite to come and speak the truth. But, No! All that is needed is spew out lies until they are believed to be true.
Yes, Gen Acheampong once said, “Ghana will not concede an inch of her territory to anyone,” when at a durbar in Ho in honour of him, someone made suggestions that it was time for Western Togoland to secede. Then some organisations were formed to make sure this request was fulfilled.
Acheampong, quickly enacted the SMCD 20: Prohibited Organisation Act, 1976, to prohibit groups like the Togoland Liberation Movement and the National Liberation Movement of Western Togoland and any of such organisations, desiring for secession. And this is what Kosi Kedem called a repressive law. This clearly shows his stance on this issue.
Another method of luring the ignorant to believe that what took place in May 1956 was illegal is to suggest that because the Gold Coast, did not participate in the Plebiscite then it meantthat it was coerced to accept an illegality. But who does not know that in referendums like this, only those directly affected would go to the polls? In the recent referendum to create regions, it was only those in the new regions which went to the polls.
From indications, one may suggest that Kosi Kedem is nursing problems in thiscountry, in support of a breakaway state. Because what is illegal about the Plebiscite? People were given the opportunity to vote and express their preference, and the majority took a binding decision but to this day, it is described as an illegality.
It may be true as things stand that there was no Union Document that explicitly endorsed the May 9, 1956 Plebiscite which majority of the people of British Togoland agreed to be in union with Ghana. However, one thing was clear and it is that the majority decision of the people favoured a union with Ghana. People also point to the Ghana Independence Act, saying nothing was mentioned of any union with British Togoland.
Fair enough. If that should be the grounds for secession, then what about the case of the Ashanti Confederacy and the Northern Territories. It must be noted that before independence, the Ashanti region made up of today’s Ashanti, Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions was an independent state under the Asante Confederacy with the Asantehene as head of government. The Northern Territories, were British Protectorate from 1901 to 1957. We had the Gold Coast Colony made up the Western, Central and Eastern regions. The then Eastern region, included today’s Greater Accra Region and Southern part of Volta region,down from Adaklu.
On Independence Day, March 6, 1957, the Asante Confederacy came to an end and with the Northern Territories and British Togoland they came into union with the Gold Coast Colony to form an independent country called Ghana. This is not indicated in the Independence Act. So, can the people of Ashanti and the North also demand secession?
Must the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) put it out in clear statement that there is a union of four different territories that formed the nation Ghana? If this should have been the case, why did Hon. Kosi Kedem not raise this issue in Parliament when he was MP from 1993 to 2001? In fact, why did he not make a statement before the referendum that approved the 1992 Constitution?
Nodetractor or enemy is peddling any falsehood against the Western Togolanders, and Hom Kedem must know this. He cannot say he was not aware of the formation of a nation called Western Togoland and the proclamation of its independencein 2020? He cannot claim he was not aware that some ofhis people stole arms from police stations and started training the youth in armed combat as they did between 1956 and 1957, when they killed their own kinsmen who voted for the union with Ghana. How can an elder, like Kosi Kedem, claim ignorance of all these and turn round to blame others for the illegalities committed by his Wedome people, when such acts happened under his very nose?
Now what will likely happen if a clause is added in the Constitution to endorse the union of Ghana and British Togoland? It is obvious these Ewes would come out with certain demands before they join the Union. But then, the Asantes and the Northerners would also come out with demands. And what happens if the demands cannot be met? Secession or what?
Currently, I do not see any problem with this arrangement. The problem is the attempts being made by people like Hon. Kosi Kedem and Western Togolanders to create insecurity in this country, because the Plebiscite did not go their way. So, why did the residents of the Kpandu and Ho districts not boycott the Plebiscite in 1956? If they did that, then they would have a case in turning down this union. Going into elections they know, it could go either way, and even out of the 51,808 people who voted in the Ewe districts during the Plebiscite, over 30% or 15,798 voted to join the Union with Ghana on Independence Day. What about that?
May Hon. Kosi Kedem come out with the alternative if nothing of what he suggested is granted? And in the extreme case they can secede to form their nation. Ifgranted, that small portion of land of4,639.55 km² with a population of over 648,000 people will surely qualify to be a country. It would become the 166th country by land size.
Kosi Kedem must know the boundaries of Western Togoland. It does not include Oti, and the north up to Binduri, because the people there voted to unite with Ghana and are proud to be called Ghanaians. This was the response the Western Togolanders had when they travelled to those areas soliciting for support.
And their land does not include south of Adaklu to the coast, south-west to Dangme lands and west to Akwamu lands which they attempted to usurp by erecting sign posts and bill boards announcing their jurisdiction and claims over those lands.
Hon. Kosi Kedem of the NDC has started something with a gentle approach that could possibly create confusion, violence and conflict in Ghana. For what he is demanding, can equally be demanded by the Asantes and Northerners.
Hon. Daniel Dugan
