Ghana has expressed its preparedness to support Togo's electoral process in that country's bid to build a durable and stable democratic society. In that connection, the government has decided to extend technical assistance to Togo and share its experiences in electoral practices from 1992 with that country. This was contained in a communiqué jointly issued by the governments of Ghana and Togo at the Castle, Osu, on Wednesday at the end of the two-day official visit to Ghana by the Togolese President, Mr Faure Gnassingbe. The communiqué called for closer collaboration between the Electoral Commissions of the two countries in order to map out strategies which would always ensure free, fair and transparent elections devoid of violence and rancour in their respective countries. The communiqué said the two Presidents appreciated recent developments in the democratic process in Togo, in particular the recent reforms in the electoral code and the restructuring of the independent Electoral Commission for violence-free presidential election in 2010. It further explained that the two Presidents underscored the importance of functioning multiparty democracies and good governance to achieving durable peace and sustainable development in Ghana and Togo, as well as in the West African sub-region. The communiqué stated that both President Mills and President Gnassingbe called for the reactivation of the permanent joint commission for co-operation to provide the appropriate framework for the efficient and effective conduct of their bilateral relations and co-operation. In that direction, the communiqué said the two Presidents directed the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of their respective countries to co-ordinate the identified areas of co-operation and convene the permanent joint commission meeting before December 15, 2009. The two Presidents acknowledged the security challenges along their common border and reiterated the need to reconstitute and to convene a meeting of the Joint Border Demarcation Commission within the first quarter of 2010. Acknowledging the threat to the peace and security of the two countries by trans-border crimes such as drug trafficking, illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and human and currency trafficking, the two Presidents directed the chiefs of the security services of the two countries to meet as a matter of urgency to examine all aspects of cooperation in those areas. The communiqué said the two Presidents renewed their commitment to accelerate the process of regional integration and reaffirmed their determination to strengthen co-operation in promoting the free movement of persons, goods and services and to intensify trade and economic relations between the two countries. The two Presidents also reviewed the situation in the sub-region and welcomed the recent political transition in Guinea Bissau and expressed satisfaction with the significant progress made for the holding of democratic elections in Cote d'lvoire. Source: Daily Graphic