By
Ewoenam Kpodo, GNA
Aflao (V/R), Feb.
22, GNA – Commercial activities at the Aflao Border have seen a sharp decline
as Ghana’s eastern neighbour, Togo, goes to the polls today to elect the
country’s next president.
As a result, not
only was the usual bustle from business and transport operators along the main
border absent but human and vehicular traffic was also non-existent as
travellers and residents avoided crossing the border.
Some people the
Ghana News Agency (GNA) spoke with during a visit to the border revealed that
this was the first time in a long time that the Togo side of the border had
remained opened while presidential election was ongoing.
Madam Kayisan Aguto,
a cloth seller, said: “Any time Togolese are voting, nobody can enter Togo
from Ghana or come to Ghana from there. It’s a surprise that the border is
opened today while they’re voting.”
“Since that has
become the norm, people assumed that the Togo Border will be
closed and so traders from Kumasi and other parts of Ghana couldn’t come
today.”
Madam Aguto said
earlier in the morning, some traders were at the border but went back for the
fear of the unknown.
The various
transport stations at Aflao, including the State Transport Company and the
Ghana Private Road Transport Union were virtually empty.
Mr Francis Halolo,
who books vehicles for Accra, said business had been slow throughout the day
due to the election adding; “The system has really been dry today.”
Mr Kwasi Amedzro, a
forex bureau operator, said: “leaving the Togo border open during
elections means a wind of change is about to blow over the country.”
He noted that he did
not open his shop because of uncertainties and hoped the change would translate
into free and fair elections that would be accepted by all.
A total of seven
candidates including President Faure Gnassingbe under the banner of Union for
the Republic (UNIR) and his two strong opponents, Mr Jean-Piere Fabre and Dr
Agbeyome Kodjo, are in the race for the presidency.
The rest are
Professor Tchaboure Gogue, Dr Georges William Kuessan, Mr Mohamed Tchassona
Traore and Prof Komi Wolou.
GNA