Lomé, Togo (PANA) – Two civil society organizations have called for institutional and constitutional reforms in Togo before the holding of the presidential elections due in April this year.
In what they dubbed “Citizen’s Manifesto”, the Group of Associations against Impunity in Togo (GAIT) and the Citizens Platform for Justice and Truth (CPJV) said elections were always a source of conflicts in Togo.
According to the two civil society organizations, adoption of reforms is essential to social peace “as it represents the aspirations of the Togolese population.”
“The totality of the political actors, civil society organizations, religious bodies and diplomatic missions accredited to the country as well as international organizations agree that the reforms are essential ahead of the presidential elections,” they claimed.
The declaration referred to a study by the Afro-Barometer Institute which revealed that more than 78% of the Togolese population wanted these reforms.
In addition, they said that the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission has strongly recommended that “these reforms be implemented to guarantee peace, national cohesion and confidence of the Togolese population in the rule of the law.”
