We had barely recovered from the sanction unjustly inflicted on the daily “Liberté” by the High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication (HAAC) when the Togolese media world was again shaken by a series of events raising questions.
The bi-weekly “L’Alternative” was not on newsstands yesterday Tuesday, March 7, 2023. Curiously, the newspaper did not produce any note to inform its readers. While the latter wondered, the information fell like a cleaver. The Publication Director, Ferdinand Ayité has been missing since March 5, 2023.
According to his relatives, when he was summoned on Sunday March 05, 2023, to the Central Criminal Investigation and Investigation Service (SCRIC) of the National Gendarmerie, for the purposes of a judicial investigation, Ferdinand Ayité no longer gave any his news. His family and the people are worried.
“After having received a summons from the SCRIC to appear on Sunday March 05, 2023 at 3 p.m., Ferdinand Ayité remains nowhere to be found after leaving the house for shopping around 9 a.m.”, alerted Isidore Kouwonou, Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper on his Facebook page.
Long before the summons to the SCRIC, and Ferdinand Ayité, and the late Joël Egah, former director of publication of the weekly “Fraternité”, and Isidore Kouwonou should appear today, March 8, 2023, at the Correctional Chamber of the Court of First instance of Lomé in the affair which opposes them to the Ministers Kodjo Adedze of Commerce and Pius Agbetomey, Keeper of the Seals.
As a reminder, in this case, the late Joël Egah and Ferdinand Ayité had been detained for a month in the civil prison of Lomé before being granted provisional release on the eve of the New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2021.
Although Joël Egah died a few weeks after their release, and the other two publicly apologized to the two ministers, this did not prevent the latter from taking them to court.
In addition, the affair between the newspaper “Tampa Express” and the CEO of Togo Terminal is far from knowing its epilogue. Let us remember that this newspaper had been suspended on February 2, 2023, in the same way as “Liberté”, for 3 months of publication by the HAAC. In addition to this suspension, the fortnightly will still have to face a new complaint before the courts. Charles Kokouvi Gafan, boss of Togo Terminal, who had previously lodged a complaint with the HAAC, is claiming 30 million in damages this time.
To these scenarios that pollute the media landscape at the beginning of the year in Togo, is added another case concerning the newspaper “L’Indépendant Express”. Indeed, the former Minister of Economy and Finance, Adji Otteh Ayassor believed he had to bring back to the table an old affair which opposes him to his colleague Carlos Ketohou, Director of publication of the newspaper “L’Indépendant Express”, whose the receipt was withdrawn by the HACC in 2021.
In a letter addressed to the journalist’s counsel, the public prosecutor informs that he and his clients were not present at the hearing on January 4, 2023, the court postponed the case to February 22, 2023. “We do not intend to concede another dismissal on the understanding that the articles published by your clients which have justified the action of ours are causing the latter enormous damage to the point that it is urgent that justice pronounce on their veracity”, perhaps we read in the mail.
It should be recalled that this complaint is related to articles published in 2015 by three newspapers, “Liberté”, “L’Indépendant Express” and “Le Rendez-vous” on a corruption case relating to the construction of the Lomé-Vogan- Anfoin. 26 billion FCFA intended for the repair of this road had taken other destinations.
What is the purpose of this harassment against the critical press in Togo? Especially with the approach of the regional and legislative elections which will be held this year.
Kofi Yamgnane, leader of the Sursaut Togo movement, had, at the start of the year, qualified 2023 as the year of all dangers. Are we on the way?
J.D.
Source: Freedom No.3789 of March 8, 2023