81 people arrested in the Volta Region for assembling for a protest over the arrest of leaders of the Western Togoland group have been granted bail.
They were arrested for attempting to organise a demonstration exercise without the consent of the police in violation of the public order act.
71 of them were earlier granted police inquiry bail while the remaining ten were granted bail by a Ho circuit court today, Thursday.
Lawyer for the accused persons, Emile Atsu Agbakpe argued that an intention to demonstrate in itself does not amount to an offence and pleaded with the court to grant the 10 bail while the court looks into merits of the case.
The lawyer also argued that continuing to hold the accused persons in custody will increase tensions.
The judge, worship Ebenezer Kwaku Ansah, granted the ten accused persons to a bail of GHc500 each with a public servant as surety.
The case has been adjourned to May 21, 2019.
How they were arrested
The police in a statement on Wednesday said 17 of the arrested individuals were picked up in the house of the leader of the group, Charles Kormi Kudzordi who lives close to the 66 artillery regiment barracks.
54 of the people were also arrested aboard a bus entering Ho and the remaining 10 arrested at other entry points in and around the Ho municipality.
7 leaders remanded
Meanwhile, in Accra, a High court granted seven leaders of Homeland Study Group Foundation, which has been championing the campaign for the secession of the Western Togoland area, were remanded to police custody while the 80-year-old leader, Charles Kormi Kudzodzi – popularly known as Papa Hogbedetor was granted bail to a tune of GHs 250,000.
They were facing charges of conspiracy to commit treason, felony of treason, unlawful assembly and abetment of unlawful training as well as offensive conduct to breach of peace.
