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"ECOWAS seen by the MMLK: Denunciation of the harassment and ransom of the security forces, customs and immigration on our borders" is the subject of an open letter from the MMLK addressed to the Chiefs of State and Government of ECOWAS Summit in Lome
Party of several observations of practices that have run in the community space, the movement of Pastor Edoh Komi, thinks that "ECOWAS has a moral and political obligation to hope for the inhabitants of its member countries, starting with the outright suppression of the ransom costs that are imposed on passengers. You must ensure the strict application of the factors that favor and contribute to the free movement of people and their property. It is in this way that people could believe in the future of the organization and participate actively in its development as a dignified and respectable sub-regional institution in Africa "…
Here is the open letter …
Lomé, July 28, 2018
To
Excellencies, Heads of State
From the ECOWAS countries
LOME
Subject: ECOWAS seen by the MMLK:
harassment and ransom
security forces, customs services
and Immigration on our frontiers
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with a big heart that we come to share with you our indignation and amazement at the daily harassment and ransom of the security forces, the customs and immigration services to the people on the borders of the member countries of the subregional institution the free movement of persons and their property
Indeed, in recent years, the cries of alarm and distress of the citizens of the community persist concerning the expenses imposed on them by the security forces and the services of immigration as they cross the borders. These allegations are only misleading information for us, and we believe that we have no evidence to support these claims. Ironie of fate! What was our astonishment when a delegation of about fifty Togolese Christians traveling to Accra in Ghana for a conference of Christian missions in Africa from July 23 to 27, 2018, faced the facts accomplished in the act Offense at the Aflao border between Togo and Ghana
While on the side of the Togolese immigration service, awareness and a sense of responsibility in the performance of their duties, on the side of the Ghana, the report is very sad. All passengers holding or not passport, must pay each between 5 and 10 Ghana Cedis (700 and 1000 CFA) both the immigration service and the health check in case of default of the yellow book, which is a serious hindrance to the ECOWAS decision-making protocols on the free movement of persons and their property
We watched the staging with a blissful silence until our turn arrived. Unfortunately for us, few people had their passports and most of them only had their identity cards, which we have to present to the Ghanaian immigration agents. They oppose categorically our passage and require 1000FCFA each. However, we were led by the Togolese agents who intended to facilitate us the task but lost effort.
Had it not been our calm and our patience, the spirits would warm up and end certainly by dramatic events between the two borders and whose consequences would be unfortunate and indescribable. Fortunately, the worst was avoided and the incident ended.
But that did not stop the gluttony and greed of these agents. Being late on our program, we decided to pay the sum of 12000FCFA for the whole delegation before gaining access to Ghanaian soil. The health service took 500F CFA per person but this is dangerous for the health of the community life of the space. Because, instead of vaccinating passengers to avoid any possible contagion or epidemic, we prefer to sacrifice human life for money. In Sogakopé, this is another border in Ghana where the delegation was subjected to a test first to get all the passengers out of both vehicles, which is not bad for the identity check. But the excuse is the fact that they asked us to pay 500 Ghana cedis (about 60 thousand CFA francs) for the same reasons. Finally, we deposited 5000F CFA (40CG)
Returning after 4 days in Accra, the Ghanaian immigration service agents oppose us a firm resistance of non access to the Togolese territory if we do not pay 8 GC each . What an aberration! We have the impression that we have to do with commercial agents at the border and this becomes for us a challenge that must be taken to free all the people from the community area. With the fury and extreme anger of the members of our delegation, we managed to get rid of the hands of these rogue and money-hungry agents who are harming the lives of the citizens of ECOWAS. Even so, 10,000 CFA francs were handed over to them before they returned to Togo peacefully and without embarrassment.
It is obvious to point out that, at all frontiers of space, there is neither difference nor change; the situation is similar and typical according to the concordant information we have at our disposal
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
What do you think of this dark and opaque picture of the management of our borders by security forces and immigration officers from your respective countries? What do you read about their undesirable, dishonest, dishonest and absurd behaviors? Are you aware of these funds that contain unforeseen expenses in the specifications of ECOWAS? If yes or no, who instituted them and who do they benefit from? To states, to yourself or to individuals? In any case, none of you will be able to say no because it would be a serious failure or an extreme inefficiency of your intelligence services that are supposed to report to you the daily activities of the borders. In other words, you can not affirm it either because it would constitute a high treason, a lack of responsibility, the affirmation of a thing and its opposite, a contradiction and a mismatch with the successive declarations of the ECOWAS which insist on subregional integration and co-operation beginning with the free movement of persons and their property
In the light of the foregoing, the people of ECOWAS are right to complain and to doubt the obvious of the sub-regional integration that their leaders continue to proclaim three decades ago. With these heavy liabilities dragging the organization with its inhabitants, it is far from guaranteeing the confidence and the assurance of a possible return to favorable conditions of life and circulation between the countries of the Sub-region. Because, beyond the difficulties related to the free movement of people and their goods that are subject to the payment of ransom, the people expect that you bring durable solutions to the socio-political and economic crises that shake some countries. It looks like it's a group of leaders who do not have visions for their country or do not have the vocation to lead or govern. However, we welcome some democratic advances that are devoting almost all space countries to international standards with the limitation of presidential terms and elections to two rounds. The latest feat is the overthrow of President Yaya Jammey's fortress of The Gambia almost two years ago. It is therefore a real achievement that is the pride of the citizens of ECOWAS with respect to a part of Africa where the regimes are still totalitarian and autocratic.
The real problem for the Economic Community of the States of Africa of the West is about the free movement of people and goods often alleged in beautiful speeches referring to beautiful texts, major decisions and great recommendations that have never materialized in time and space.
For the Martin Luther KING Movement -the Voice of the Voiceless-, ECOWAS has a great sub-regional identity but has not yet succeeded in wooing citizens into integration. It is a sad reality that no one can dispute and the hundreds of millions of souls that populate it, are still orphans in many areas.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your peoples are waiting for you either speeches but acts that contribute to their fulfillment and their freedom. They aspire to democratic regimes that respect human rights and constitutional texts, the independence of justice and strong institutions in our states. They hope that their choices in the ballot box are counted and taken into account in the election of their leaders. They want leaders who give them an account of how they manage their countries.
This is an opportunity for us to salute the quality of governance and the advancement of democracy and the rule of law in Ghana, Benin, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde, Nigeria, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and even the Gambia
Excellencies Ladies and Gentlemen,
From now on, the ECOWAS has a moral and political obligation to hope for the inhabitants of its member countries, starting with the outright removal of the ransomware fees imposed on passengers. You must ensure the strict application of the factors that favor and contribute to the free movement of people and their property. It is in this way that people could believe in the future of the organization and participate actively in its development as a dignified and respectable sub-regional institution in Africa.
True to its vision of respect for human dignity and that to combat injustice, bad governance and corruption in all their forms for the happiness of the people, the Martin Luther KING Movement – the Voice of the Voiceless – hopes that you will spare no effort to translate into reality the peoples' expectations of the Economic Community of West African States
Please accept, Excellencies Ladies and Gentlemen, Heads of State of ECOWAS, the expression of our highest consideration.
The President, [19659005PastorEDOHKKOMI
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