Thursday, March 26, 2015

Togo: ECOWAS calls for new voter's register

Ghana's President and Chairman of Ecowas, John Mahama, has helped resolve a threatening political dispute in Togo by endorsing a decision to postpone the election originally scheduled for April 15 to May 25, 2015.

His intervention was in response to calls from Togo's opposition parties over the credibility of the voters register which they allege is bloated.

President Mahama urged the Togolese authorities to agree to an independent audit of the voters register of Togo, arguing that it was important Togo goes into the election with a register which enjoys the confidence of all parties.

Opposition parties in Togo have some time now questioned the credibility of the country's voter's register.

They said they suspected the grounds were being laid for President Faure Gnassingbe to win the elections through a questionable voters register and called for a review of the register to ensure confidence in the process.

Last Tuesday, members of the opposition parties paid a courtesy call on Ghana's former President, J.J Rawlings.

The former President in a meeting with the leadership of Togo's National Alliance for Change Party (ANC) said as a Ghanaian he was naturally interested in developments in Togo.

An official statement said he counseled the leadership of The National Alliance for Change (ANC) to consult ECOWAS Chairman, President John Dramani Mahama to pass on all their concerns.

The Togolese delegation was led by Jean-Pierre Fabre, the party's president, Mr. Latevi Georges Lawson, Special Advisor and Octave Koffi Anthony, a cabinet member.

Former President Rawlings said they would also prompt President Mahama to look into the matter but stressed the need for the concerned Togolese parties to channel their grievances to the ECOWAS leadership.


Former President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador Victor Gbeho who was at the meeting said he was happy that the Togolese opposition was using peaceful channels to express their concerns.

-Source: Office of the President

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