Your Excellency,
Before I begin this letter, permit me a moment of mourning.
Oh sons of courage, daughters of resistance — your names echo in the winds of Lomé.
You rose not with guns, but with grit — not with hatred, but with hope.
Now your blood stains the soil you sought to free.
Your mothers’ tears have become rivers of grief; your fathers’ hands shake with unanswered questions.
You were too young to die, but your dreams were too bold to live under tyranny.
Sleep now, brave hearts of Togo. One day, your sacrifice will speak louder than bullets.
I cry as I write this with a heavy and restless heart — not just as an observer, but as a fellow West African. I write not as a citizen of Togo, but as a concerned neighbour — a member of local government authority in the Republic of Ghana and the Head of the Coalition for Integrity in Governance – Ghana (COFIIG-GHANA). In solidarity with the oppressed and grieving, especially the young people of Togo, many of whom have died or disappeared simply for demanding freedom, justice, and the end of an era that has lasted far too long.
Your Excellency, the root of Togo’s tragedy is no mystery.
In 1967, Gnassingbé Eyadéma , then a military officer seized power in a coup d’état, overthrowing Nicolas Grunitzky. What followed was an uninterrupted 38-year rule, making Eyadéma one of the longest-serving leaders in African history. His regime was marred by brutality, silencing of dissent, rigged elections, and systematic repression. Hundreds — possibly thousands — were killed over the decades. Political opponents were either exiled, imprisoned, or eliminated. Togo’s press, civil society, and institutions were reduced to rubber stamps of fear.
When Eyadéma died suddenly in February 2005, the world expected a new chapter for Togo. But instead, a new page of the same book was opened. In blatant violation of the constitution, the military illegally installed his son, Faure Gnassingbé, as president — a move condemned across Africa. After international pressure, he stepped down briefly only to contest and win elections marred by irregularities and deadly violence. The 2005 election alone reportedly claimed over 500 lives and displaced thousands.
Since then, Faure Gnassingbé has remained in power for nearly 20 years. His rule has been marked by persistent crackdowns on opposition, imprisonment of journalists, torture allegations, media censorship, and militarized elections. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and local civil rights bodies have all documented widespread abuses during his reign. Promised reforms have been delayed or diluted. Efforts by the Togolese people to implement term limits have been brutally suppressed.
This is not democracy — it is dynastic oppression.
The Gnassingbé family has ruled Togo for 57 years — longer than most Togolese have been alive. This is not governance. It is generational captivity. Today’s youth are simply asking for what their grandparents, parents, and now they themselves have been denied: change.
Your Excellency,
The role of ECOWAS, as enshrined in its protocols and charters, is not just to promote economic cooperation but to uphold peace, democratic governance, and the rule of law in the region. We cannot preach democracy in some countries and remain silent in the face of carnage in others.
What message are we sending to the young people of West Africa when bullets answer ballots, and cries for justice are met with tear gas and tanks?
Yes, Mr. Chairman, you know what is happening in Togo — it is no longer hidden. It is all over the international news, across social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and others. But I feel the responsibility to draw your attention again — not just as a concerned African — but as an elected local government representative from the Republic of Ghana. I am currently serving my second term as Assembly Member for Aborlove-Nolopi Electoral Area, under the Keta Municipal Assembly in the Volta Region of Ghana. My proximity to the Togolese border and my daily engagement with grassroots communities make the pain and fears of ordinary West Africans very personal to me. I cannot remain silent when fellow human beings just across the border are being brutalized and silenced for demanding democratic reforms.
Across the African continent, we are witnessing a new dawn from Senegal to Zambia, Nigeria to Kenya where young people, civil society, and patriotic citizens are rising to call for accountable leadership and true democratic governance. But sadly, in the case of Togo, the people’s cry for democratic reforms is being met with brutality, killings, enforced disappearances, unlawful arrests, and a reign of terror under the continued rule of the Gnassingbé dynasty, now in its sixth decade.
I ask: why is brute force being used against these citizens? Are they armed with weapons of mass destruction? No. These are innocent people — hungry, desperate, and peaceful — who are simply calling for regime change and a chance at a better future. Yet, they are met with bullets, tear gas, and violence as if they are enemies of the state. What crime have they committed, aside from demanding their rights?
The streets of Lomé and beyond are soaked not just with the tears of the grieving, but increasingly with the blood of innocent protesters, journalists, and political activists. Families are mourning loved ones lost to state violence, many without the dignity of justice or even proper burials. Others live in fear for daring to express opinions that question the legitimacy and human rights record of the regime.
Your Excellency, as Chairman of ECOWAS, it is your sacred duty to speak out firmly and act decisively against these grave injustices. Silence, indifference, or political accommodation in the face of such suffering betrays the very principles of ECOWAS — peace, democracy, good governance, and the protection of human rights.
As the newly elected Chairman of ECOWAS, I know and believe that you are President today because democracy was practiced in your country, and the will of the people brought you to power. If you are able to amplify the voice of the people and ensure justice across the region — particularly in situations like Togo — it will not only solidify your presidential legacy, but will also boost the chances of your party continuing in power beyond your tenure. History has shown that when leaders uphold democratic values and human rights, the people respond with loyalty and continuity.
Yes, your chairmanship to lead the ECOWAS body has been entrusted into your hands not by accident, but because of your character, competence, and the traits of leadership that fit the demands of this moment. The ECOWAS membership believes in your capacity, and that is why you have been given this honour and responsibility. Now, the time has come to bring that trusted leadership to bear.
Let me draw your attention to something very simple but powerful: I know you have children, and from time to time, they make requests, demands, or express dissatisfaction. As a father, you do not respond to them with violence or starvation — rather, you reason with them, you guide them, and you listen to their needs with understanding and empathy.
So must a leader treat the citizens who entrusted him with power — not because of his age or appearance, but because they believed he was the right person to help them achieve a journey of national dreams.
So then, why has it become a crime for people to demand change? Why must leadership turn citizens into slaves in their own land, unleashing brutality, starvation, and fear upon them? Why must innocent people be murdered simply for asking for elections? Why are people not allowed to go outside, buy food, or cross borders to seek survival?
Was governance meant for only one family? Is the nation of Togo the private estate of the Gnassingbé family? Are there no other families in Togo — smart, sensible, educated, and intelligent — who can also lead the country forward? If democracy brought others into power in different African countries, then why is democracy failing in Togo?
Why is ECOWAS quiet when blood is flowing and fear is ruling?
Mr. Chairman, let me take your mind briefly to history. During the days of our great-great-grandparents, ancient migrations were common across the African continent. People moved from as far as Egypt, Syria, and parts of the Middle East, down through Northern Nigeria, Benin, and present-day Togo, including Lomé. Others journeyed further into the Trans-Volta Togoland — now known as the Volta Region of Ghana. Some settled in what is now Greater Accra among the Ga people, the Krobos, and others continued northwards into what is today the Oti Region.
These movements were not acts of war but a search for peace, fertile land, safety, and trade. Over the centuries, these ancient migrations built bridges of cultural, linguistic, and economic ties between what is now Ghana and Togo.
Today, the borders are modern, but the people, trade, and economies remain deeply connected. Daily inter-nation trade continues to thrive and has generated employment, markets, and increased revenue — particularly for the government of Togo. Ghanaian traders, transporters, artisans, and farmers contribute to Togo’s economy — and vice versa. That is why peace and democracy are not just internal matters; they are deeply regional concerns.
Mr. Chairman, you are leading a region with shared roots and shared futures. The regime style we are in today and the mindset of the youth, especially the Generation Z (Gen Z), demand that those in high authority engage differently — with understanding, urgency, and innovation.
The youth are not waiting for tomorrow — they want development, fairness, and opportunities to begin today. They are digital, well-informed, globally connected, and politically conscious. Today’s generation verifies facts quickly, challenges inconsistencies instantly, and holds leaders accountable in real time. That is why it is becoming more difficult to deceive or manipulate voters, and increasingly impossible to suppress the truth.
Mr. Chairman, you are a man of gentility and integrity. Kindly try and bring sanctity to Togo. Let there be rains of democracy, and let the air of freedom blow across the land.
Yes, the people of Togo have already suffered deeply under the rule of President Faure Gnassingbé’s father, the late Eyadéma Gnassingbé, whose long reign brought fear and oppression. So when the son — a man with roots from both the north and south of the country — took over, many hoped for reform, peace, unity, and accountable democracy. But instead, his leadership has become more oppressive, more brutal, and more tragic than ever imagined.
Mr. Chairman, how long shall the killing go on? Is President Faure Gnassingbé waiting for human blood to flood the streets of Lomé before he realizes that the era of the Gnassingbés is over? Is he hoping to lead a nation where the only living things are tombstones and cemeteries?
The call is for change — and that call is growing louder by the day. The air that now blows across West Africa, especially within Francophone nations, must be a wake-up call. It is a sign that the old ways are crumbling, and that the youth are rising — not with weapons, but with conviction, courage, and clarity.
They are calling for:
A change that brings development,
A change that creates jobs,
A change that builds human capacity,
A change that embraces technology,
A change that promotes education and diversity,
And a change that crushes corruption, so that young people can live meaningful lives, not lives that lead nowhere.
The tenure of President Faure Gnassingbé has come to an end. The presence and actions of the military have worsened the situation, and for this reason, we call on the United Nations, particularly its Humanitarian and Security Councils, to intervene and help salvage lives and property in Togo.
President Faure has indeed done a lot for his country, but it is high time he steps down peacefully and avoids the kind of international shame that has seen other African leaders dragged before the International Criminal Court.
Let him preserve his legacy, protect his family’s name, and retire with the dignity that still remains. He is a nice man, and this is the moment to make a statesman’s decision — not one of force, but of wisdom.
It Is no longer a Togolese issue — it is a West African issue, and indeed, an African issue. The ripple effect of repression in Togo threatens the regional stability ECOWAS claims to safeguard.
I therefore urge ECOWAS, under your leadership, to:
Publicly condemn the killing and brutalization of protesters in Togo. Send an independent fact-finding mission to investigate the human rights situation on the ground. Engage the Togolese government directly to demand reforms, including a clear roadmap to credible elections and democratic transition. Consider targeted sanctions on individuals and institutions responsible for ongoing repression. Support civil society and peaceful democratic movements working to bring lasting change to Togo.
The time to act Is now. The people of Togo have suffered too long. ECOWAS must not be seen as an elite club of presidents — it must rise as a true defender of people’s rights and freedoms across West Africa.
Let there be peace. Let there be compassion. Let there be the moral conscience that this moment demands — not only from the ECOWAS Chairman but from all Member States. I wish my lovely and humble President of Ghana will also lend his voice — for the sake of the lives lost, and those still living in fear, including some who may share Ghanaian heritage or ancestry but are now trapped across the border. Their lives matter, and their cries must be heard.
History will judge you not only for the words you speak but for the actions you take.
In solidarity with the people of Togo and all Africans striving for justice and freedom.
Sincerely,
signed
Hon. Simon YawAwadzi
Executive Director COFIIG-GHANA
[email protected]
WhatsApp : 0264114444
