Clergyman commends ECOWAS

Winneba, Mar 7, GNA - The Senior Bishop's Deputy of the Africa Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, the Right Rev. Dr. Godfred Zormelo, has commended the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the African Union (AU), for the bold, timely, and appropriate measures they initiated to help solve the political conflict in neighbouring Togo.

He however, appealed to the leaders of the two organizations to ensure close, effective monitoring, and full implementation of all proposals and directives given to the Togolese authorities to ensure absolute free and fair election at the stipulated time.

Speaking to the GNA on the recent developments in Togo at Winneba, Rt. Rev. Dr. Zormelo counselled Togolese leaders who have been assigned to discharge the ECOWAS/AU assignment to set aside all partisan and other differences to enable them to produce credible results that would be acceptable to members of various political and ethnic groups in Togo.

Dr. Zormelo said the move initiated by the ECOWAS and AU to compel the son of the late Togolese President to relinquish power was the best, saying that Africa, particularly West Africa needed peace and political stability to mobilize all available manpower and natural resources to free her citizens from hunger, abject poverty, diseases and other issues which dehumanise people on the continent once and for all.

The Senior Bishop's deputy said the political upheaval, which started in Togo could have had economic and political implications for neighbouring states, particularly Ghana, if swift moves were not made to stem a spill-over.

He reminded the people of Togo that it was only through the spirit of peaceful co-existence, mutual understanding and cooperation among the entire citizenry that their nation could witness a sustained political stability, peace and economic progress.

Rt. Rev. Dr. Zormelo said Ghanaians and all peace loving people in Africa and other parts of globe join the people of Togo in expressing their profound appreciation to members of ECOWAS and the AU for their achievement.

The Senior Bishop's deputy also expressed the hope that the group, which has been assigned the responsibility to prepare grounds for Togo's next presidential and parliamentary elections would strive to live up to the expectation of the people of Togo and the international community.