The leadership of the Western Togoland Governing Council (WTGC) has expressed deep concern over the recent visit of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany to Ghana, criticizing what they describe as a deliberate attempt by the Ghanaian government to sideline Togoland’s historical ties with Germany.
In a statement addressed to several international offices — including the German Embassy in Ghana, the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations, and the United Nations Office in Ghana — the Council said the official itinerary of the visit made “no recognition of Togoland’s place in the shared history between Germany and Ghana.”
According to the Council, Togoland’s forced integration into Ghana in 1956 violated the terms of the United Nations-supervised plebiscite, which stipulated that Togoland and Ghana should form a union, not be fully integrated.
“Our predicament today is as a result of our relationship with Germany since 1884,” the statement read. “For forty years, the people of Togoland resisted British and French encroachments, fighting to preserve their sovereignty, yet our story remains erased from Ghanaian history books.”
The Council also accused successive Ghanaian governments of suppressing Western Togoland’s history, citing laws that criminalize the mention of “Western Togoland” or advocacy for self-determination.
The statement further claimed that several Togoland activists remain imprisoned under Ghana’s Prohibited Organizations Act (SMCD 20) — a law the group describes as “contrary to democratic principles and freedom of speech.”
The Council criticized the Ghanaian government for allegedly ignoring rulings and recommendations from international bodies, including the UN Human Rights Council’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions and the UN Periodic Review, both of which reportedly called for the release of detained activists and the amendment of the controversial law.
“Every time a high-ranking German official visits Ghana, the government ensures that Togoland is left out of the itinerary to avoid reigniting the historical discussion,” the statement continued.
The Council reiterated its position that Togoland was never legally integrated into Ghana and continues to demand accountability and reparations for what it calls the “illegal annexation” of its territory.
The statement was signed by H.E. A.K. Ametepe, Governor of Western Togoland, who emphasized that the people’s quest for self-determination is not an act of rebellion but a legitimate pursuit of historical justice.
“Self-determination is not a crime. The Germans must begin the Togoland conversation and seek accountability from Britain and France for the crimes committed against our people,” he stated.
The WTGC reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful advocacy through international engagement and maintained that it will continue to pursue recognition and sovereignty for the people of Western Togoland.
Check out their press release below:
Source:. thepressradio.com
