General News of Thursday, 30 October 1997

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Togolese Arrested For Acts Hostile To Ghana

Aflao (Volta Region), 29 Oct. Mr Nyadanu Komla Pepin, a Togolese refugee in Ghana, has been arrested for questioning by the security agencies at the Aflao border after visiting Lome during which he engaged in hostile activities against Ghana. Sources said while in Lome, Nyadanu appeared on Togo Television praising the government of President Gnassingbe Eyadema and sought to implicate Ghana in alleged destabilisation activities against Togo. Nyadanu who had been a refugee in Ghana since 1992 decided to leave for Togo at the beginning of 1997 because living conditions as an exile were becoming difficult for him as food rations provided by the UNHCR were meagre. According to Nyadanu he and others were promised financial assistance by the Togolese authorities through some of their colleagues. On arrival in Togo, Nyadanu said he was approached by some former refugee colleagues and was told they could claim money they have been promised only on condition that they made public statements implicating Ghana in activities to destabilise the government of Togo. He said since he is financially handicapped, he agreed to join his colleagues. They were featured in a special programme on Togo TV as members of a group that were being trained in Ghana to destabilise Togo and paid an undisclosed fee. On his arrest, Nyadanu claimed he came to Aflao to buy gas and visit his girl-friend.