The engines of two V8 SUVs are started by the officers in charge at the Jubilee House and time check, it’s 10:40am, 26th of June, 2018, the year of our Lord. Two State Protocol officials, four media folks and a medic get on board the two vehicles and the destination is Lome, the capital city of Togo.
Travelogue is opened one more time and the mission this time round is the ECOWAS sanctioned mediation talks co-facilitated by President Akufo-Addo and his colleague, Guinean President, Alpha Conde.
At the Board Crossing
At about 12:15pm, the convoy of two arrived at the Ghana – Togo border crossing (Aflao). Ghanaian border agency officials had prior knowledge of our arrival and had prepared in advance to receive us. After securing a parking place for us, officials of Ghana’s Embassy in Togo assembled our passports and presented same to the passport control unit of the Togolese Immigration Office. After about 20 minutes, the team was cleared to enter the Togolese territory. The convoy thus drove through the border crossing enroute to Hotel 2 Fevrier.
My First Impression
It is trite knowledge that the official languages in Togo are French and Ewe. However, I noticed that beyond French and Ewe, there is very little to offer on the part of any of the Togolese citizenry to speak or learn how to speak English. The language barrier between the team and the attendants we first encountered was going to be a cross we had to carry during the period of our short stay.
Off to our Hotel
Hotel 2 Fevrier, the host of the mediation and peace talks was not to host the media team. With the assistance of the staff of the Ghanaian mission in Togo, we made our way to Hotel Merlot, Angle Rue Bouaé, Avenue de la Victory 157 Tokoin-Casablanca. After struggling through with our broken and or partial French language skills, we secured our rooms, settled down and readied to step out again back to Hotel 2 Fevrier.
Off to Receive the President
At about 16:30 GMT, the Presidential convoy departed the Hotel 2 Fevrier to the Tokoin or Gnassinbé Eyadéma Airport ahead of the 19:30 GMT arrival time of President Akufo Addo and his entourage.
Pre-arrival Heart Break
At the VIP Lounge of the Togolese airport while we were patiently awaiting Mr. President’s plane to touch down, both Ghanaian and Togolese officials waiting at the airport decided to support Nigeria in the World Cup game against Argentina. It seemed all was going well for Nigeria who were on their way to qualify to the last 16 round of the competition with a one-all draw against the Argentines. At the 88th minute of the game, our hearts were broken when the Argentinians scored a late goal to beat the Nigerians by two goals to one.
Arrival of the President
Some seven minutes after the heartbreak, the President’s Airforce plane touched down. The Togolese President, Faure Gnassingbé, together with members of the mediation team from Ghana, representatives of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Deputy, Ambassador at large, Dr. Edward Mahama; Minister for National Security, Ken Dapaah; were at the Tokoin Airport, also known as Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport, to receive the President. Soon after the arrival formalities, the President’s convoy departed to the Hotel.
Total Lock Down
Upon departure from the Airport, I noticed something intriguing.The entire stretch of road from the airport to Hotel 2 Fevrier was locked down. No car was permitted on both sides of the double lane road. Police officers were stationed at virtually every junction and intersection that led to the main highway to ensure that no one interfered with the free flow of the convoy traffic. My enquiries suggested that this arrangement is the norm in Lomè whenever a visiting Head of State is to be driven to and from the airport. With the peaceful arrival of the President, day one was effectively over.
Commencement of Day Two
The team hurriedly grabbed a bite at the restaurant of the Hotel Merlot to break our fast. At about 8:05am, we were off on the ten minute drive to the conference venue, Presidential Auditorium Evala at the Hotel 2 Fevrier. By 8:25am, we were all set for the conference which we discovered would start at 11:00am local time in Lomè. The hotel lobby would thus play host to us till the plenary was duly constituted.
Arrival of the Guinean President
President Alpha Conde at about 9:30am while we were waiting, made his way into the hotel amidst very tight security. He headed straight to touch base with President Akufo-Addo and to set the parameters for the encounter. Togolese President, Faure Gnassingbé, in no time also arrived at the hotel to confer with the co-facilitators ahead of their meeting with the other parties. After about 30 minutes of talks, smiles and handshakes, the Togolese leader departed to his office.
Let the Diplomacy Begin
At exactly 11:00am, Presidents Akufo-Addo and Alpha Conde, made their way from the hotel across the street to the summit venue. The principals (Togolese government delegation and representatives of all 14 opposition parties in Togo) were already seated.
Defining the Agenda
Without mincing words, President Akufo Addo in his welcome address to set the ball rolling, made the position of the facilitators known.
Table Your Immediate Concerns
President Akufo-Addo and his colleague Guinean President, Alpha Conde, threw a challenge to the Government of Togo and the coalition of opposition parties in Togo to table their major preoccupations about the political crisis in their country by specifying their main concerns in order to guide their mediation efforts going forward.
Addressing the plenary session of both parties at the presidential auditorium of the Hotel 2 Fevrier, the President said three months since the last meeting of the parties, things seemed to have gotten worse than it was before the mediation efforts begun. To that end, the ECOWAS mediation team had decided to chart the path that had been proposed.
The two Heads of State decided to first meet with the Togolese government delegation to know their concerns. They subsequently meet with the Togolese opposition delegation to know their issues. Both parties then reassembled for a final sessions to adopt a common communique on the main issues that would be set out for mediation and guide the process going forward.
Common Grounds
After six hours of intense shuttling between the principals, the co-facilitators reached a compromise with the parties. Clearly from the deliberations, both parties had taken entrenched positions on what their actual concerns and demands were.
The Communique
After about an hour of editing and cross checking to fine tune it, the two-page communique was ready.
Extend The Right To Demonstrate To Entire Country
The co-facilitators of the ECOWAS sanctioned Inter-Togolese Dialogue aimed at finding a lasting solution to the political instability in Togo, called on the President of the West African Nation, Faure Gnassingbè, to take immediate steps to extend the right to demonstrate to the entire national territory of the Togolese homeland as demanded by the opposition with the aim of guaranteeing freedom of demonstration as well as the security of property and persons.
The co-facilitators also urged the security forces to ensure that they carry out their law enforcement mission with professionalism, in compliance with the laws of the land. Additionally, they advised all political actors in Togo to sustain the progress made through dialogue and consultation for a peaceful settlement of the situation.
Street Demonstration
The two Heads of State inspite of the recommendation for the extension of the right to demonstrate to the entire national territory of the Togoles homeland, exhorted all political parties in Togo to suspend all forms of street demonstrations during the dialogue.
On the Issues Tabled
The communique also indicated that the co-facilitators would carefully examine the details of the various concerns raised by both parties as proposed by them. They would subsequently present them to the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS at their next summit for their consideration and necessary action.
The Hungry Media
The vibrant nature of the Togolese media and the sense of urgency they attach to their quest for information and details could not have escaped my attention. With their cameras, microphones and recorders, they waited in line to get the story. I was rather very impressed and challenged by their passion for the job.
The Bread Stand
Inside the main lobby of Hotel 2 Fevrier, I took judicial notice of a mini breakfast bar at the 5-star facility. The most fascinating thing I took notice of is the different designs of bread baked and ready for consumption. Amongst them were crocodile, tilapia, snake and what have you.
Time to Depart
After the presentation and adoption of the final communique, it was time for the co-facilitators to depart Lomé. At about 19:45 GMT, the Presidential motorcade departed from Hotel 2 Fevrier to the airport.
Media Team Favoured
State protocol officials upon consultation with the Presidency, favoured the media team with the rare opportunity of flying with the President on his plane. The media team with the speed of lightning took the opportunity and got on the flight. At about 20:00 GMT, the Airforce plane of the President was airborne for the twenty minutes flight enroute to the Kotoka International Airport. At exactly 20:25 hours, the President’s plane touched down.
Thanks be to God, the diplomatic mission to the Togolese homeland has ended and guess what, the President did not go home, but proceeded to the Presidency to complete his domestic work ahead of his regular cabinet meeting every Thursday.
Final Words
The rather short trip can be described in a single word as excellent. All efforts to get the principals in Togo to sit, talk and negotiate is the only way forward for the security and future of Ghana’s eastern neighbour. The travelogue takes a bow for now. In due course the travel window will reopen. Mérci Beaucoup.
By Wilberforce Asare/Presidential and Court Correspondent/EIB Network
