23 Nov 2009

Dear Confreres,

Greetings from Lomé, Togo!

 

Thanks to a quick "reaction" on the suggestion of Xene from the part of Fr Provincial Shiju Paul of BOT, let me add the following info for the appreciation of one and all.

 

In my previous message, of course, I presumed that most of you would be entering Togo via the international airport in Lomé, the capital of Togo. But I must add at once that it is possible to fly into Cotonou (commercial capital of Benin) and/or Accra (capital of Ghana), and then come to Lomé by road. It is possible to obtain a one-week visa at either of the borders paying (the equivalent of) US$20. Once you are in, we can get your visas extended for a month or so. The only hitch with that for the moment is that I am not sure if such an extended one month visa has multiple entry possibilities! I will find that out in the coming days. This concerns only those who would like to go to Benin on a 48-hour visa (which also can be obtained at the border on our way) and reenter Togo from Benin. Those might need to take another one-week visa again at the border paying another 20 dollars, if the said one-month extended visa has no multiple entry facility. As I said I will find that out soon - in any case, it is not too complicated, except that it will require another page in those passports, besides those extra bucks!

 

Flying into Lomé has very limited possibilities: only Ethiopian flies into Lomé from different sub-Saharan cities. Of course, there are other flights like Air France, Air Morocco, and Afriquiyah of Libya. I guess these are not very practical for several of our men.

 

On the other hand, Accra offers a wide range of possibilities. From what I know, Ethiopian, Kenyan, South African and Emirates fly into Accra on a daily basis almost, besides several European airlines. Kenyan flies into Cotonou/Benin as well. From both Accra and Cotonou, it is just a three-hour drive by car/taxi to the Togo border on either side.

 

For those who prefer to fly into Accra, and come by road to Lomé, please do get in touch with Fr Provincial D'Mello of GHA for all practical details in regard to the obtention of the multiple entry Ghana visa, flight and pick up, and later trips to Lomé, up and down etc... Naturally, you will have to count well those extra days/dates as well for your flight tickets depending on your travel plans, besides budgeting for them.

 

You may carry with you US dollars and/or Euros - it is easy to change either of these currencies at the local Forex bureaux in Accra and Lomé.

 

It is also essential that you carry along your Yellow (vaccination) card. It is very likely they ask you to show the yellow card at the airport/border entry points.

 

We will be happy to welcome you all at either of the entry points: Lomé airport or at Lomé-AFLAO border, coming in by road from Accra.

 

In either case, please do supply a scanned copy of "the usual passport pages", for us to prepare a list of our invitees so that the local police authorities at the border are in the know of your coming to facilitate your obtaining the togo visa on your arrival at the entry point.

 

If you think you still need an "invitation letter" prior to leaving your country, there is no problem, you will have it just for the asking, and by email (specify the language in which you need it, please).

 

Feel free to contact us if you need any further info and/or assistance.

 

Keep well till we meet, and enjoy the X'mas/New Year festive seasons before that!

 

In the Word,

 

Joseph Kallanchira, SVD

Lomé