Togolese security personnel clash with Ghanaian Customs officials

Togolese security personnel last week opened fire on a Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) vehicle at Lente, a village along the Ghana-Togo border and injured three persons.

The three are Baba Dayome Donewoo, farmer, 25, Doe Sodzi, 10, and his sister, Dofui, eight. The bullets hit Doe and Dofui on their foreheads. Sources close to CEPS at Aflao told the Ghana News Agency that a customs patrol team strayed into the Togolese territory. At about 19 hours the team came across Mr Donewoo and asked him to help them retrace their course. As the Toyota pick-up in which they were travelling approached Pillar 18,an area known to be a notorious route for armed robbers, car thieves and other criminals, the Togolese security personnel suspicious of the patrol team opened fire on the vehicle as it reversed. Donewoo who was standing in the bucket of the Toyota pick-up was hit by bullet in the thigh and he fell. He was left behind as the vehicle sped off.

According to the sources, the two children who were then warming themselves by the fireside were hit on the forehead by the bullets. The Togolese security personnel took Mr Donewoo and sent him to a hospital in Lome, while the two little ones were treated and discharged at the District Hospital at Aflao.

The sources blamed the CEPS patrol team for operating in the area without the knowledge of the Sector Commanders at the Aflao border post. Mr Kow Amissah Koomson, the Sector Commander confirmed the story, but refused to comment because "it is a serious security issue and the National Security Council is the appropriate body to approach."

Meanwhile, the sources said Mr David Anaglate, Ghana's Ambassador to Togo was negotiating with the Togolese authorities for the release of Mr Donewoo to continue his treatment in Ghana.