An Accra High Court condemned two Police Inspectors to a total of nine years in jail for their membership in the Western Togo Restoration Front (WTRF), a separatist group and a banned organization in Ghana.
Billy Akuaku, who contributed to the Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF), received a five-year jail sentence and a GH¢6,000 fine. If Akuaku did not pay the fine, he would face five months in prison.
Gabriel Dorduno, who also contributed financially to the HSGF, was sentenced to four years in jail by the same court and fined GH¢3,600. Dordonu would serve a three-month jail sentence in absentia.
The agents were said to be members of groups prohibited between 2018 and 2020.
This occurred after the trial, which was presided over by Judge Mary Yanzuh, concluded with their guilty verdict.
The defendants were charged with membership in a prohibited organization, namely the WTRF and the Homeland Study Group Foundation, as well as making payments to a banned organization.
Akuaku was charged an extra fee for taking financial donations from members of the Homeland Study Group Foundation, Jasikan Branch.
The court stated that it imposed harsh or deterrent penalties on the convicts because they were in the security service.
According to the court, they must cease leaking information and safeguard the Ghana Police Service and the nation.
The prosecution said that, based on intelligence acquired, National Security Council agents conducted an operation to locate and arrest members of the WTRF who, on September 25, 2022, stopped the roadway between Juapong and Sogakope and set fire to two STC cars.
The prosecution stated that while investigating the operations of the banned organization, the investigative team uncovered a WhatsApp group platform called “SEC ADMI,” which was formed by high-ranking members of the organization to discuss security-related problems.
Furthermore, the prosecution informed the court that subsequent research found that certain members of the group, including those charged, worked in security.
According to the prosecution, the now-convicted defendants were also members of the Homeland Study Group Foundation’s two WhatsApp platforms, “Psalm 21” and “HSGF”.
According to the prosecution, Akuaku was detained on March 7, 2021 and transported to his apartment in Adzogekope, where the investigating team discovered eight WTRF cards, one of which had his name.
Again, a notebook with financial data of members of the Jasikan branch of WTRF and a list of executive members of the organization named “Upper Lake-Oti Provincial Executive Committee” was discovered in his chamber.
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The court heard that on the same day, the investigative team searched Dordonu’s home and discovered a WTRF membership card, a notebook labeled “Funeral Contribution,” and a mobile phone.
The prosecution informed the court that the station officer was directed to notify Dordonu that he would be appearing before the Director of the Intelligence Unit at CID headquarters.
Dordonu was detained on April 8, 2021, after he reported as ordered.
According to the prosecution, during interrogation, Akuaku acknowledged to being a member of HSTF.
Dordonu confessed possession of the notepad discovered in his room, but disputed ownership of the WTRF membership card.
According to the prosecution, Akuaku made two monthly payments of GH¢10 to HSGF in September and October, as evidenced by the “HSGF JAS BRANCH” notebook recovered in his room.
Furthermore, the prosecution stated Akuaku and Dordonu were discovered to have given GH¢150 and GH¢100 to HSGF.
SOURCE: GNA
