It is a multi-faceted affair that has been shaking the Prefecture of Avé for several years and more precisely the locality of Koudassi-Gare. In question, a plot estimated at more than 150 hectares disputed between the Gbétsi and Adifo communities. Threats, intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and injunctions from prefectural, communal, cantonal and even customary authorities are at the rendezvous in this case. And as a corollary, AWU Kossi, the Prefect of Ave accused by the Gbetsi of taking up the cause of the Adifo proceeded to the dismissal of two regents. Main reason put forward, they would have made “forgery and use of forgery” by signing documents which attest to the ownership of the plot disputed by the Gbetsi. It does not take more to trigger the anger of some and the enmity of others. Both sides are ready to fight.
Grievances once morest authority: The presumed dark role of the Prefect
The bone of contention remains a demarcation authorization signed by the Prefect. While the Gbetsi community avails itself of this document to prove its paternity on the plot and the right of exploitation, the opposing camp opposes it with the blessing of the Prefect who considers that he has in his possession a false document signed by a few chiefs recognizing the right of ownership to the Gbetsi. And because the document in question contains tampered signatures, the whole procedure according to Mr. AWU is void. “One day in this same case, the Prefect forced me into his command car and drove me straight to the Gendarmerie Post to be arrested. Had it not been for the Brigade Commander’s impartiality, I would have been thrown in prison,” complained the main victim Yawo Gbétsi.
And Mensah Toulassi, the agent of the Collectivité Tago, neighbor of the Gbétsi to add: ”The Gbétsi and Tago families on the one hand and those of Galè and Adifo are from the same ancestor. Every time we try to enter our own plots, our own brothers threaten us and sometimes beat us. We thought there was a problem. To see it closely, it is the AWU Prefect in the lead who pulls the strings. We have always thought that the Prefect is the legal representative of the State in our locality. Well mistaken, it is a field canvasser for the Adifo and Galley communities. We are not going to accept that our own lands are stolen from us”.
Everything leads us to believe that the Prefect Kossi AWU and the Chief of the village of Hékpé, Togbui Yao Hodogbé III, yet President of the peace committee of Avé, are accused of being in cahoots with the Adifo communities. And all the demonstration made by the Gbétsi during the press briefing held this Sunday, March 19, 2023 in the locality went in this direction.
The two dismissed regents are Kokou Adjivon, Regent of Koudassi-Gare and his counterpart Komi Eza, Regent chief canton of Tovégan. Their successors would also be known and induction ceremonies are planned in the coming weeks.
Accused, the Prefect defends himself
Contacted by the Editorial Board, the Prefect from his farm kindly responded to our request. And he brushes aside all these accusations once morest his person.
”The first court decision granted 8 hectares of this plot to Yawo Gbétsi. If he had to settle for that, the problem would have been solved by now. It is himself (Gbétsi) who took legal action”, explained the Prefect of Avé Kossi AWU. Before continuing: “I’m from Aképé, I don’t have any land in Koudassi. You have to give Caesar what is Caesar’s. The document held by the Gbetsi is a false document with fictitious signatures. As an authority, I cannot be silent and let the peace of my Prefecture, which I have led for 12 years, be threatened. As a result, I have decided to dismiss these two regents who forged and used forgeries. This decision is irrevocable”, defended the Prefect.
The other defendant, Togbui Yao Hodogbé III, also defended himself. He who considers that a demarcation authorization cannot act as a right of ownership. And yet it is the procedure adopted by the Gbétsi who went to tear off the boundaries of the plot, claiming to be in possession of a demarcation authorization. This has angered the other side. Justice will do its job, but for the moment, we cannot determine who owns the approximately 150 hectares of land. Moreover, the Gbetsi do not even know exactly the size of the plot they are claiming, he said.
In Togo, land disputes have become a daily occurrence in certain localities. In Koudassi-Gare as elsewhere, it is more urgent than ever that a definitive solution be found to the question of land, which dangerously threatens social peace. When does recess end? And if the panacea came from the Head of State himself.
JE
Source: The Corrector / lecorrecteur.info
