PETITION
To:
H.E. John Dramani Mahama
President of the Republic of Ghana
Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces
Cc:
H.E. Julius Maada Bio – President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chairperson of ECOWAS
H.E. João Lourenço – President of the Republic of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union
Captain Ibrahim Traoré – President of the Transition, Burkina Faso
Subject:
We, the undersigned citizens of West Africa, guided by a shared commitment to peace, democratic governance, and regional stability, hereby petition your offices to take urgent diplomatic steps to de-escalate the unfolding political crisis in the Republic of Togo.
The recent constitutional amendment placing President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé at the head of an all-powerful Council of Ministers—without term limits—undermines foundational democratic norms. It reflects a deepening pattern of “constitutional coups” that threatens the credibility of African governance institutions and may provoke unrest with regional consequences.
🔺 Why This Moment Demands Leadership
For ECOWAS, under H.E. Bio’s chairmanship, the Togolese situation tests the bloc’s integrity: can it stand against constitutional authoritarianism as resolutely as it does against military coups? For the African Union, under President Lourenço’s stewardship, this is an opportunity to uphold the principles enshrined in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. For Ghana, under the statesmanship of H.E. John Dramani Mahama, the nation’s democratic legacy and regional diplomacy provide a unique platform to mediate with moral clarity and strategic foresight. For the Sahel bloc, including Captain Traoré’s Burkina Faso, the struggle for legitimate people-centered governance is a shared imperative for long-term peace.
🕊️ Our Humble Requests
1. Lead a Joint Mediation Initiative involving AU, ECOWAS, and the Sahel Alliance to negotiate a peaceful, democratic transition in Togo—anchored in dialogue, rule of law, and citizen representation.
2. Facilitate a Safe and Dignified Exit for President Gnassingbé, including possible relocation or mediation from Ghana to ensure peaceful de-escalation and regional goodwill.
3. Convene an Emergency Summit with African leaders and civil society to address the broader trend of constitutional manipulation, reaffirm term limits, and adopt enforceable democratic safeguards.
✉️ A Special Moral Appeal to H.E. John Agyekum Kufuor
Your Excellency, President Kufuor, your personal commitment to democracy and peaceful transitions has long inspired Africa and the world. With your respected voice and, we believe, personal proximity to President Gnassingbé, we respectfully urge you to privately encourage him to take the honorable path of legacy—by handing over power to a democratically elected government without delay.
Your counsel at this historic crossroads could avert bloodshed, preserve dignity, and protect the long-term peace and credibility of Ghana, Togo, and the entire subregion.
As Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah once declared, “Our independence is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of the African continent.” That liberation today means standing firm not only against guns and tanks, but also against constitutional entrenchment that silences the sovereign will of the people.
We trust in your leadership. We appeal to your conscience. And we stand ready, as citizens, to support all efforts that lead toward justice, democracy, and enduring peace.
Respectfully submitted,
Concerned Citizens of West Africa
✊🏾🇹🇬♥️🇬🇭✊🏾
FreeTogo #AfricaMUSTUnite #DemocracyMatters #KufuorForPeace #SahelForJustice
Retired Senior Citizen
Teshie-Nungua
[email protected]
