The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR has said that hundreds of Togolese have fled the country into neighboring Ghana.
The agency puts the figure at over 500 following a crackdown by Togo’s government in response to protests demanding the exit of President Faure Gnassingbe.
The protesters many of whom are from the opposition want an end to the 50 years of rule under the Gnassingbe family.
On Friday, UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch said in a statement that “So far, 513 asylum seekers have been registered by the Ghanaian authorities”.
Those fleeing have entered Ghana’s towns of Chereponi, Zabzugu and Bunkpurugu-Yunyuo. These communities share border with Togo at the north of Ghana.
“Togolese seeking safety, including women and children, told UNHCR staff they had fled on foot, walking from their homes in Togo’s Mango region, bordering Ghana,” Baloch said.
Meanwhile Paddy Tetteh, from Ghana’s Refugee Board has told AFP that “At some point they were more than 600 but some have left. Before there were more men than women but now it’s an equal number”.
The United States and France have said they were concerned about the violence in the West African nation.
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
