The 26 Togolese nationals who were arrested in Ghana’s capital Accra by the police for staging an unlawful protest to demand for the resignation of their President, Faure Gnassingbe have now been released.
They appeared before a court in Accra on Tuesday charged with three counts of offensive Conduct, Conspiracy to Commit Crime and Failure to Notify the Police.
All the twenty six accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against.
The protesters many of whom were from the opposition political party in Togo were hoping to grab the attention of political leaders in Ghana to put pressure on Mr. Gnassingbe to go.
The demonstration was foiled by police officials after the protesters converged at a location in Accra to demonstrate over the political crisis.
A police spokesperson in Ghana, Afia Tenge told local media, “The police believe that assembly contravene public order act and so they were arrested.”
The 26 Togolese have been released on bail and are expected back in court on November 13.
Ghana’s President Akufo Addo on Monday revealed that he is in talks with officials in Togo towards resolving the current political crisis there.
“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,” Akufo-Addo is quoted by local media to have said.
The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR has said that over 500 Togolese have fled violence to Ghana following a crackdown by Togo’s government in response to protests demanding the exit of President Gnassingbe.
Those fleeing have entered Ghana’s towns of Chereponi, Zabzugu and Bunkpurugu-Yunyuo. These communities share border with Togo at the north of Ghana.
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
