Closure of Ghana-Togo border on election day could disfranchise some Ghanaians – MCE

Mr Bernard Amarble, Ketu-South Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), has said that the closure of the Togo side of the Ghana-Togo border on election day, could disfranchise some  Ghanaians living in Togo, Benin and Nigeria.

He said in 2008, some Ghanaians resident in these countries, who attempted entering into Ghana through unapproved routes to vote, in view of the closure of the border, were detained by both Togolese and Ghanaian security  personnel until after the polls .

Mr Amarble made the observation at the inauguration of a 20-member Security Taskforce to coordinate the polls in the area, in December, at Denu.

He said there were hints that a group was planning a hoax along the frontier on the day of the election to provide the Togolese government grounds to close its side of the border.

The MCE said Ghanaians who could be prevented from voting if the border was closed were sympathizers of the National Democratic Congress.

“We have reports that some people want to cause disturbances to prompt the closure of the Togolese side of the frontier to prevent Ghanaians resident in Togo and others  from coming down to vote,” Mr Amarble stressed.

He said that monitoring elections in the municipality could be particularly challenging and asked the security to be vigilant, fair and resolute on the day of elections.

Mr Amarble appealed to political parties not to do anything to obstruct the operations from carrying out their activities.

He also appealed to radio stations to ensure that political party activists and social commentators show decorum in their discussions.

The taskforce consist of personnel from the police, Bureau of National Investigations, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, National Commission for Civic Education, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Electoral Commission, and Information Service Department.

Source: GNA