This was contained in a communique issued after a meeting between Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo and the Coalition, as well as representatives of the government.

[contextly_sidebar id=”M45fnwPqiHxU7JMIP5q9kgdvHGWMwJp3″]The Coalition, consisting of 14 opposition parties, agreed to suspend demonstrations pending the outcome of the dialogue.

They indicated that, with regards to the remaining issues under appeasement and confidence building, they would appreciate feedback before the next joint meeting.

An issue that was raised by the Coalition on the return to the plenary was the need for the state to delay the planned local and parliamentary elections until the electoral and institutional reforms contained in the rules of procedure had been had considered and decisions taken on them.

Presidential pardon

As part of measures aimed at “appeasement and confidence building”, President Akufo-Addo, as captured by the communiqué, conveyed a number of decisions taken by his Togolese counterpart, President Faure Gnassingbe, to that end.

This included presidential pardons, dated February 19, 2018, for 45 of the 92 persons detained in the country’s prisons as a result of their involvement in the demonstrations.

“The case of the seven (7) persons who were imprisoned as a result of the 2013/2014 market fire riots would be brought before the Court to consider an application for bail by Wednesday, 21st February, 2018,” the Communique added.

The statement further indicated that “other prisoners in detention, as a result of their involvement in the demonstrations, would have their cases examined by the Togolese Judiciary to determine their fate after going into the merits of their individual cases.”

‘I can’t impose any solution on Togo’

President Nana Addo had earlier told political parties that he cannot impose any solution on the current political unrest in the West African country.

“I’ve come here with no solution; prescription or magic wand to impose or prescribe any solution for the resolution of the crisis that has gripped your country in these last months,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo made the remark on Monday moments after a closed-door meeting with Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe and leaders of the main opposition parties who are pushing for presidential term limits.

Togo, in recent times, has witnessed a series of protests by opposition parties who are calling for the resignation of their President.

President Akufo Addo, however, expressed optimism about the outcome of the mediation process.

“My task is a simple one – to help assist in the dialogue between the various political actors of this country so that the peace, stability, consolidation of democracy and the rule of law which is the demand of the Togolese people is realized here in Togo,” he added.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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“I’ve come here with no solution; prescription or magic wand to impose or prescribe any solution for the resolution of crisis that has gripped your country in these last months,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo made the remark on Monday moments after he entered into a closed door meeting with Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe and leaders of the main opposition parties who are pushing for presidential term limits.

[contextly_sidebar id=”cARRewmaATYupErboFADJ3shAURaZH2V”]Togo, in recent times has witnessed a series of protests by opposition parties who are calling for the resignation of their President.

President Akufo Addo however expressed optimism about the outcome of the mediation process.

“ My task is a simple one – to help assist in the dialogue between the various political actors of this country so that the peace, stability, consolidation of democracy and the rule of law which is the demand of the Togolese people is realized here in Togo,” he added.

While in Togo, Akufo-Addo will also meet civil society groups that have joined the calls for a limit on  presidential term.

The President’s visit comes weeks after General Secretary for the People’s National Convention [PNC], Bernard Mornah, expressed concerns about President Akufo-Addo’s seeming silence over the political crisis in Togo.

Mr. Mornah, who led a protest in Accra in that regard, was arrested by police together with others for disregarding the Public Order Act, an arrest he described as unlawful. That notwithstanding, he staged the protest again, and has since sued the police for unlawful detention.

‘26 Togolese nationals arrested’

In October 2017, 26 Togolese nationals were arrested in Ghana for attempting to stage an unlawful demonstration over the political situation in their country.

According to the Accra Regional Police Operations Officer, Chief Superintendent Kwasi Ofori, about 300 Togolese had to be dispersed lawfully at the Kawukudi Park because their intended action was in clear breach of Ghana’s public order act.

That was the second time Togolese nationals in Ghana had tried demonstrating in solidarity with efforts back home by the opposition to have presidential term limits.

‘We’ll bring political crisis to an end’

The agitation led to a public outcry, with some persons including the MP for North-Tongu and former Deputy Minister of Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, calling on the President of Ghana to intervene.

President Akufo-Addo, in response to these concerns had stated that his administration has been working behind closed-doors in an attempt to bring the political crisis to a closure.

The President had said his government was in talks with Togolese officials to address the crisis in that country.

“The events that have taken place next door in Togo, are disturbing for all of us and especially for you, I know what it means. I remember vividly in 2005 when the former President Eyadema died, there were problems over the succession. Over 100,000 refugees stringed across the border. Many of them I think are still there. They have not gone back to Togo, so I know that anything that happens in Togo is a matter of very great concern and it is a concern to me and the people of Ghana.

“The Togolese President came to see me in Tamale ten days ago, and we are talking to see how we can bring this crisis to a closure and bring stability back to Togo. It is in our interest to do so. The appeal we are making are falling on very sympathetic ears. I am not staying idle on this matter . We are acting. Let us pray for the blessing of the Almighty, and we can find a solution that will be in the interest of the people of Togo and by implication the people of Ghana,” the President said.

Closed door meeting 

In October 2017, President Nana Addo held a closed door meeting with Gnassingbe over the development in Togo.

The President had at the time revealed that the meeting was aimed at bringing the crisis to an end.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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The Police arrested the 26 on Saturday after they converged on the Kawukudi Park in preparation for a mass protest without notifying police, in clear breach of the public order act.

[contextly_sidebar id=”oO9zTkS3ItbJt2uybDGUUg9FeFG6DdHr”]Some motorbikes were also impounded by police at the scene.

Togolese in Ghana in recent times, have organized such protests in solidarity with efforts back home by the opposition to have presidential term limits in place.

Ghana consulting with Togo

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, has said that the government is frantically engaging Togolese authorities over the heightened political situation in that country.

One of the criticisms from some protesters in Togo has been directed towards the perceived silence and inaction from the sub-region.

But Speaking to Citi News, Mrs. Ayorkor Botchway assured that “consultations are going on. We are talking [with them] because it is important.  We are a stakeholder. Anything that happens in Togo has an effect on us. Anything that happens in Ghana will have an effect on Togo.”

“…it is in our interest to make sure Togo is safe and Ghana is safe, and there is nothing negative going on in any of the two countries… The other ECOWAS countries are all engaged to ensure that everything is okay in our sister country in terms of their politics and adhering to their constitution,” the Minister said.

Togolese crisis

Togo’s opposition parties have been demanding a return to constitutional term limits for the Presidency, and also for President Faure Gnassingbe to step down.

Gnassingbe has been in power since 2005 after the death of his father, General Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled Togo for nearly 50 years.

The anti-Gnassingbe protests, that have seen hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets across the country, have resulted in over 15 people killed and scores injured.

Three new street marches have been announced for November 7, 8 and 9, despite the Togolese government’s ban on weekday protests.

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By: Duke Mensah Opoku &Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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It is unclear where the rumours emanated from, but a number of persons, notably consisting of National Democratic Congress (NDC) sympathizers run with it.

But little did they know there were a couple of fundamental flaws in the election loss claims meant to mock the President on the back of his historic 2016 election victory on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

For one, as pointed out by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, ECOWAS doesn’t vote on the selection of a chairperson, because the position is rotational.

“Just to set the records straight. I don’t know who put this out about an Ecowas vote today at the summit. At the level of the heads of state, they mostly don’t vote on issues; as much as possible they go by consensus. There was no vote today. It had already been agreed as per Ecowas rules of rotation that the chair of authority will be a francophone country and this time Togo. So sorry to disappoint some folks, Ecowas doesn’t work like that. The chairmanship smoothly moved from Liberia to Togo. This propaganda will not wash. Guess what? It was President Akufo-Addo who proposed President Faure and all the others (peers)  clapped unanimously in agreement. Shame on those who started spreading this falsehood.  I’m off to bed.”

Faure Gnassingbe took over the rotational role from Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at the 51st ECOWAS Summit of Heads of State held for the first time in Liberia on Sunday, June 4, 2017.

Another key flaw in the claims on social media was that Nana Addo lost in an election with 16 voters, when ECOWAS actually consists of 15 countries after Mauritania formally withdrew in December 2000.

Some watchers on social Media were keen to point out the apparent ignorance in the sub-regional politics, including outspoken musician A-Plus.

As always on social media, some Ghanaians took advantage of the situation to make jokes about the whole issue.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nana Addo didn’t lose any ECOWAS election – Ayorkor Botchwey appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Many groups, including the minority in parliament have expressed similar sentiments over the two projects.

Lonrho has, with the support of the government, acquired 514 hectares of land at Atuabo in the Ellembelle District for the construction and operation of an oil and gas port terminal.

The project, known as the Ghana Oil and Gas Freeport Service Terminal Complex, is expected to begin operating at full capacity in 2016.

However, Nana Kobina Nketsiah questioned the aim of the project and even wondered if Lonrho has the track record to deliver, when the new British High Commissioner to Ghana, Jon Benjamin paid a courtesy call on him.

He expressed his displeasure at Lornho’s “unhealthy relationship” with African countries and the fact that Ghanaians do not benefit greatly from foreign investments.

He, however, stated that “if and when” the port was built, he hoped the company “would have learnt from its mistakes” and would “make changes” in the way it relates with African countries.

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nana Nketsia criticises Lonrho’s “unhealthy relationship” with Africa appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.