Several Togolese have fled their country into neighboring Ghana as they escape security crackdown following continuous protests by the opposition seeking an end to the Gnassingbe dynasty.
Officials in Ghana’s northern region have confirmed that over 400 Togolese have entered the country’s Chereponi district with more expected to follow as more protests are planned for this week.
On Tuesday, 400 of these Togolese arrived by road from Mongo into the district and double that figure reportedly entered neighboring district- Bunkprugu/Yunyoo, according to Ghanaian officials.
Hundreds of Togolese have fled repression in northern city #Mango to Chereponi in nothern #Ghana #Togodebout #FaureMustGo
— Farida Nabourema (@Farida_N) September 26, 2017
The government official in charge of the Chereponi district Tahiru Abdul Razak was quoted by local radio station Starr FM in Accra that the Togolese have “decided to ran for their lives, and yesterday (Monday) the pressure was too much because the people learned that they were going to be another demonstration from Wednesday to Friday of which some of them cannot resist so they have to look for a place to save their lives”
Last week a boy was killed when security forces used batons, tear gas and live bullets against some protesters.
Riots broke out in the northern city of Bafilo between the protesters against Gnassingbe and his supporters with several people reported injured.
Thousands of Togolese have been marching for months now across the West African nation demanding reforms that will bring an end to the Gnassingbe family dynasty.
The opposition in Togo last week also boycotted the parliamentary vote on proposed constitutional reforms in the West African nation after raising concerns with the content of the bill.
The government’s bill detailing political reforms in the country will now be subjected to a referendum if it is to be passed.
Faure Gnassingbe took over from his father Eyadema 12 years ago after he died while in power for 38 years. He has since won elections in 2005, 2010 and 2015 but got the two-term limit for presidents scrapped a year ago to allow him to further prolong his rule.
Source: Africafeeds.com
