TOGOLESE OPPOSITION LEADER PAYS TRIBUTE TO TOGO GOVERNMENT AFTER 13 DAYS DETENTION IN GHANA
Posted by African Press International on August 13, 2009
Ebow Godwin, Lomé
After 13 days detention in neighbouring Ghana following allegations of possessing military uniforms and scam Mr. Nicolas Lawson, leader of the opposition Party for redemption and Renewal, PRR paid tribute to Togo government for its intervention leading to his release.
Mr. Nicolas Lawson was accused by a Ghanaian businesswoman for fraud and sexual harassment last month.
Following these allegations the Togolese opposition leader was detained in cells in Ghana pending investigations for over 13 days.
He said “it is in such adversity that you can see the sense of humanity and dignity of people”.
“If I told you that I am free today due to the Togo government’s intervention many people will not believe it but it is true”, he declared.
After thanking the government for its gesture he asked “if the Togo government sees that one of the political leaders is arbitrary detained in a foreign country , do you think that they have to leave me to my facts because I am an opponent?”.
“The Togolese government did not think that way but they have signed a bail so that I can be free. So I have to thank them but this cannot derail my democratic aspirations because it is my right to denounce if something is going wrong”, Mr. Nicolas explained.
Responding to a question whether this situation will change his move by joining the ruling RPT party or the government, the Togolese opposition leader said “my fight it is not a fight of joining anybody or not but it is rather to change Togo into a real democratic country where the rule of laws is applied”.
He then appealed to the Togolese politicians to elevate their spirit of humanity when one of them is affected because a political opponent it is an eternal enemy.
Mr Lawson also lashes at the judiciary administration in Ghana for failing to apply laws as he was detained for 13 days over allegations without having access to a lawyer or a court.
“What is going on in Ghana it is not good. How can you detained a suspect in inhuman conditions following an allegation for over 13 days without allowing him to have access to his lawyer or to go to a court”, he vehemently protested.
He has called upon the Ghanaian President John Evans Atta Mills to take immediate actions to help him seek redress and also to tackle the corruption prevailing in the institutions like CID and BNI in Ghana.
Concerning the charges against him, Mr. Lawson presented a document of registration belonging to Diligent Hands limited company owned by Mme Donita Neequaye the complainant and which allows it to supply the Ghanaian Army with different types of equipment.
It will be recalled that Mr. Lawson was managing the company before his arrest following the allegations.
He said “all these allegations put against me it is just to tarnish my political career in Togo. Some questions I was asked by the agents show really that some people wanted to stop my aspirations because of their political affiliation to some Togolese political leaders in Togo”.
The Togolese opposition leader therefore declared that this situation will not affect his political aspirations because he is fighting for the right cause.
It will recalled that the arrest of Nicolas Lawson in Ghana last month has nearly brought to a dislocation the prevailing renewed relations between the two countries after allegations of possessing military uniforms were put against him.
He was presidential candidate in 2003 against the late Gnassingbe Eyadema and has declared this year his intention to take part in the upcoming presidential elections slated for 2010.
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