afrol News, 10 February - Ghana’s President John Evans Atta Mills has pledged his support to the Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe as the country prepares for elections on 28 February.

He said giving the people the freewill to choose their leaders is the best thing to do in order to earn the support and trust of the people.

Earlier this week, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) promised to send at least 300 election observers to monitor Togo’s upcoming election scheduled for later this month.

Political director of ECOWAS Abdel-Fatau Musah, said the observer mission will comprise 200 senior officers and 100 civilians.

“Under ECOWAS protocol, the ECOWAS commission has an obligation to assist member states who are organizing elections in various ways. So, ECOWAS already sent fact finding missions into Togo to go and ascertain the level of preparedness for the forthcoming elections,” he said.

He further said ECOWAS will be sending an observer mission, both security and civilian to observe the elections.

Togo’s Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) ruled out main opposition leader Gilchrist Olympio from the upcoming election after he reportedly failed to undergo the required medical examination stipulated in the constitution.

By the electoral body’s ruling, Mr Olympio who leads the main opposition Union of Forces for Change (UFC) will not be able to challenge incumbent President Faure Gnassingbe in the February election.

In his place, UFC secretary, Jean Pierre Fabre, was named as Mr Olympio’s replacement and his documents were submitted on 15 January ahead of the election.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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