ALARM, Togolese dissidents invade Ghana

Since newspaper reports alleged that Togolese dissidents were busily recruiting armed combatants in Ghana, there has been flurry of diplomatic and intelligence activities in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, “The Insight” a private newspaper reports. The newspaper reports alleged that the recruits were to be sent into Togo to help remove Africa’s longest serving president, Gnassingbe Eyadema from power and create favourable conditions for the restoration of genuine democratic rule.

The Togolese government appears to have taken a two-pronged approach to finding a solution to the alleged destabilization attempt. “First, it has asked the Government of Ghana for more information on the allegations and sent its own sniffers into the country,” the paper alleged. So far, there is no indication that the Government of Ghana is co-operating with the Togolese dissidents.

“Reports of the recruitment of combatants in Ghana, appear credible in view of the fact that it is now known that irregular combatants in the conflict in neighbouring La Cote d’Ivoire used Ghana as their recruitment base for a while,” the newspaper alleged further.

The late Gen. Sam Bukari, alias Gen. Mosquito, a combatant of the Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone was in Accra for sometime before he left to join rebel soldiers in La Cote d’Ivoire.

“Dr. Kwesi Ening of the University of Ghana and an expert in the security services in West Africa, alleged that General Mosquito came to Accra through the International Airport.” He also alleged that Gen. Mosquito was involved in the recruitment of ex-combatants from Sierra Leone and Liberia to fight in Cote d’Ivoire.

A report carried by the Ghanaian Voice, a pro-opposition newspaper of last Monday alleged that this time round, combatants from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ghana are being recruited for action in Togo. The newspaper said it was withholding details of the operations of the Togolese dissidents.

The security situation in Togo ahead of the controversial June 1 presidential elections, appears to be getting worse, since that country’s Parliament passed a law and the National Electoral Commission also refused to allow Mr. Gilchrist Olympio to contest the elections.

The Electoral Commission claims that it prevented Mr. Olympio from contesting the presidential elections because he could not obtain a Tax Clearance Certificate.

Over the last 15 years, the Togolese authorities have repeatedly accused Mr. Olympio of plotting with Ghanaian assistance to topple the Eyadema regime.

In 1986, scores of Ghanaian soldiers were massacred when they allegedly entered the Togolese capital to take part in a plot to overthrow the Eyadema regime.

“As a result of the alleged numerous attempts to overthrow the Eyadema government from Ghana, relations between the two countries were strained and it is believed that the NPP presidential candidate received Togolese assistance in his bid for the presidency,” the paper alleged.

Ghanaian democratic forces have been particularly critical of the cozy relations between presidents Kufuor of Ghana and Eyadema and urged the Ghanaian president to distance himself from his Togolese counterpart, perceived to be a dictator and an enemy of true democracy.

“Ghanaian government spin doctors have however said that president Kufuor is seeking by his close ties with the Togolese leader, to help him reform. The truth however is that Mr. Kufuor has so far, either as chairman of ECOWAS or president of Ghana, not made any statement on current development in Togo.”

“The Insight” believed to be critical of the government, added that, “independent watchers say that any conflagration in Togo will have serious economic, social and political implications for Ghana. They have expressed surprise at the decision of president Eyadema to run for president again in the face of calls on him from his international backers to retire. From all indications, all is not well with Togo and the earlier the Ghanaian authorities took steps to help