Le Ghana prêt à partager son expérience en matière électorale

Le président du Togo, Faure Gnassingbé, a achevé mercredi une visite officielle de 48 heures à Accra en déclarant que son pays avait la ferme intention de renforcer ses liens avec le Ghana. Faure et son homologue John Atta Mills ont passé en revue les questions bilatérales et, notamment, la lutte contre la criminalité transfrontalière.

A ce sujet, ils ont décidé de réactiver les activités de la commission de démarcation commune qui se réunira au premier trimestre 2010. Les problèmes aux frontières concernent le trafic de drogue, d'armes légères, de voitures ou de devises.

Les deux chefs d'Etat ont demandé à leur ministre des Affaires étrangères respectifs d'identifier les différents domaines de coopération à développer ou renforcer et de prévoir la tenue de la commission mixte au plus tard le 15 décembre 2009.

Dans le document final signé à l'issue de la visite par le chef de la diplomatie ghanéenne, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, et par celui du Togo, Koffi Esaw, il est indiqué que les deux présidents renouvellent leur engagement à accélérer l'intégration régionale en favorisant la libre circulation des biens et des personnes.

Les deux chefs d'Etat marquent leur satisfaction de voir démarrer les activités de la Zacop, la Zone d'alliance et de coprospérité, un groupement qui rassemble, outre le Togo et le Ghana, le Bénin et le Nigeria.

S'agissant de la situation politique au Togo, MM. Atta Mills et Gnassingbé se sont félicités des réformes réalisées comme l'adoption du nouveau Code électoral et la restructuration de la Commission électorale nationale indépendante (Céni) « qui auront un impact positif sur les prochaines élections présidentielles », peut-on lire dans le communiqué officiel.

Le président ghanéen a indiqué que son pays était disposé à partager son expérience et à fournir une assistance à la Céni, via sa propre Commission électorale.

« Tout ceci doit renforcer les bases permettant de maintenir le calme et de favoriser la réconciliation pour avoir un scrutin libre, démocratique, transparent et sans violence », a expliqué le président du Ghana.

Sur le plan régional, les deux leaders ont évoqué la situation en Guinée Bissau, au Niger, en Côte d'Ivoire et au Gabon, au Soudan et en Somalie.

S'agissant de la crise économique et financière internationale, MM. Gnassingbé et Atta Mills ont souhaité que les mesures annoncées par le G20 en avril dernier à Londres soient mises en Œuvre pour limiter les effets de cette crise sur les pays les plus pauvres.

Le communiqué officiel publié à l'issue de la visite (anglais)

JOINT COMMUNIQUE ON THE OFFICIAL VISIT TO GHANA OF HIS EXCELLENCY MR. FAURE ESSOZIMNA GNASSIGBE, PRESIDENT OF THE TOGOLESE REPUBLIC, 25TH – 26TH AUGUST 2009

1.    IN FURTHERANCE of the sustained political will and shared commitment to deepen bilateral relations and cooperation between Ghana and Togo, to their mutual benefit, His Excellency Mr. Faure ESSOZIMNA Gnassingbe, President of the Togolesse Republic, paid a two-day official visit to Ghana from Tuesday 25th to Wednesday 26th August, 2009.

2.    The visit was a follow-up to that of His Excellency Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, President of the Republic of Ghana to Togo in April 2009, and provided the opportunity to review the state of relations between the countries, as well as their perspectives on sub-regional, continental, and international issues.

3.    The two Presidents were accompanied by their respective Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, and other key Ministers and senior officials in their bilateral discussions.

4.    President John Evans Atta MILLS and President Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE expressed satisfaction with the prevailing peace and the spirit of good neighbourliness between the two countries and renewed their commitment to harness the energies and resources of their governments in ensuring the well- being of their peoples through the identification and realization of mutually-beneficial projects and programmes.

5.    The two delegations considered the existing and potential areas of mutually-beneficial cooperation including trade, energy, water resources, food and agriculture, health, telecommunications, defence and security sectors.

6.    The two Presidents reaffirmed their conviction that a reactivated Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation will provide the appropriate framework for the efficient and effective conduct of their bilateral relations and cooperation.

7.    The two Heads of State directed the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the two countries to coordinate the identified areas of cooperation not later than 15th December, 2009.

8.    The two Presidents acknowledged the security challenges along the common border and reiterated the need to reconstitute and to convene the Joint Border Demarcation Commission within the first quarter of 2010.

9.    In further acknowledgement of the threat to the peace and security of the two countries by trans-border crimes such as drug trafficking, illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and human and currency trafficking, the two Presidents directed the Chiefs of the Security Services of the two countries to meet as a matter of urgency to examine all aspects of cooperation in those areas.

10.    The two Presidents appreciated recent developments in the democratic process in Togo, in particular, the recent reforms in the Electoral Code and the restructuring of the Independent Electoral Commission and their expected impact on future elections. They agreed that these developments strengthen the basis for ensuring a calm political environment and reconciliation for a free, transparent, fair and violence-free Presidential election due in 2010.

11.    President John Evans Atta MILLS reaffirmed Ghana's preparedness to continue to support Togo's electoral process through sharing of experiences and the provision of technical assistance as may be required. He called for closer collaboration between the Electoral Commissions of the two countries.

12.    The two Presidents underscored the importance of functioning multi-party democracies and good governance to achieving durable peace and sustainable development in their two countries and in the wider West African sub-region.

13.    President John Evans Atta Mills and President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe reviewed the recent visit to GHANA by the US president Barack Obama and noted that the impact as far the message on democracy and good gove4rnance was concerned. They agreed that president Obama 's visit has had serious implication for Africa's development whi9ch should not be taken for granted.

14.    The two head of state renewed their commitment t accelerate the process of regional integration and reaffirmed their determination to strengthen cooperation in promoting the free movement of persons, goods and services and to intensify trade and economic  relations between their two countries and within the sub-region. They noted with great satisfaction the contribution that the co-prosperity Alliance Zone (COPAZ) comprising Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo could make in accelerating the process of regional integration.

15.    The two Presidents reviewed the situation in the wider African sub-region and welcomed the recent political transition in Guinea Bissau. They discussed the situation in Cote d'Ivoire and expressed satisfaction with the significant progress made for the holding of democratic election later in the year.

16.    The two head of state also reviewed the situation in Guinea and called for theintensification of the political dialogue currently underway in that country towards the holding of early elections and return to constitutional rile. They also expressed concern over recent political developments in Niger and welcomed the recommendation of the Mediation and Security Council of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to hold an extraordinary summit to discus the situation in that country.

17.    The two leaders called for the holding of free, transparent and peaceful democratic elections in Gabon. They also called on the international community to remain engaged with the situation in Darfur in the Sudan, and in Somalia and to continue the search for lasting solutions to the crises that would bring relief to the suffering peoples of the two countries.

18.    The two leaders reviewed the current international economic crisis and expressed the hope that the commitments made by the developed countries at theG20 Summit held in London in April 2009 are implemented to minimize the adverse effects of the crisis on the economies of developing countries.

19.    During his visit, President Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE toured places of economic interest including the Asogli Power Plant, the Pioneer Food Cannery in Tema and the Akosombo Hydroelectric Dam.

20.    At the end of the official visit, President Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE extended his gratitude to President John Evans Atta MILLS, the Government and People of Ghana for the warm and friendly welcome and hospitality accorded him and his delegation.

Done in Accra, on 26th August, 2009
In the English and French languages
both texts being equally authentic.

SIGNED

HON. ALHAJI MUHAMMAD MUMUNI
, MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
AND REGIONAL INTERGRATION 
OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA


H.E. MR. KOFFI ESAW
, MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
AND REGIONAL INTEGRATION
 OF THE TOGOLESE REPUBLIC