Accra, March 20, GNA - The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr James Victor Gbeho has paid a day's official visit to Togo in connection with the Presidential election held recently in that country. Mr Gbeho met with President Faure Gnassingb=E9, with whom he had extensive discussions on matters associated with the conduct of the election and aftermath.

The President of the ECOWAS Commission congratulated President Gnassingb=E9 for the impressive manner in which the said election was held, especially given the fact that no lives were lost. He referred also to the fact that, although aspects of the election had been criticised, it was the consensus of the international community, including ECOWAS, that the Presidential election had been free and fair.

Mr Gbeho endorsed the decision of the Togolese Government to extend an invitation to the opposition to join an inclusive Government and urged the parties to put the interest of Togo above party politics. He also met with the leadership of the Union des Forces du Changement (UFC) and congratulated the party for having contributed to the holding of the historic presidential election.

Mr Gbeho expressed the profound satisfaction of ECOWAS with the recent election, as it marked progress towards the holding of not only free and fair elections, but Togo's re-entry into democratic governance. After listening to the grievances of the UFC, he appealed to the leaders to put their disagreements behind and move Togo forward in the re-establishment of good governance in the country. He advised the UFC to seriously consider the party's participation in an inclusive Government and also move Togo forward in the search for democracy and progress. Mr Gbeho said the detailed complaints of the UFC, would be brought to the attention of the newly elected Government for redress. He urged the Togolese people to support the inclusive government in its nation-building efforts so as to benefit from the dividends of the current situation. 20 March 10