When the telephone of Faure Gnassingbé animates the controversy on the canvas

What phone uses the son of General Eyadema? Before last Sunday, the question would perhaps arise. Except that with images in support, the First Magazine made a revelation that made outcry on the web. Vertu, is the phone at the exorbitant price that would use the Togolese Head of State Faure Gnassingbé in photos alongside Tony Blair during his recent visit to Lomé.



The price varies between 60,000 Euros and 320,000 Euros (depending on the options: gold, diamond, emerald etc.) or between 39,420,000 F cfa and 210,240,000 F cfa ... revealed the First Magazine.

Indeed, Vertu is a luxury phone brand developed by Nokia and the first model came out in 2002. The manufacturer relies on aesthetics convinced that a consumer spending $ 20,000 to buy a watch could use much more For a mobile phone.

But in fact, beyond the luxury materials used in hand design for each Vertu phone, incorporated technology would not be just as much up to date. Vertu nevertheless uses the Android system.

Faure Gnassingbe is in his native Kozah where he attends the traditional ceremonies (Evala and Akpema) in the Kabylian country.

Some argue that "Faure Gnassingbé has no scruples about using a billionaire phone in a country where more than half the population lives below the poverty line and there is virtually no Public hospitals ".

Other Internet users believe that "it is at least what it can offer itself as head of state. Like Faure Gnassingbe is free to buy what he wants with his means".

A gift?

These indignations recall the Maybach that the tenant of Lomé 2 had offered himself for his official journeys. Faced with the fury of a part of the press, the then Minister of Economy and Finance (Adji Othèt Ayassor) protested, saying that the Head of State should still not move in wheelbarrow.

A former politician has nevertheless revealed that these expensive objects used by African politicians are often the gift of corridors. But at what cost ? This revelation refers to the panama papers affair. At the time, the press had received revelations that at the beginning of the year the President of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister, the Head of State and the members of the government receive gifts or envelopes , In the order of 10 million CFA francs or much more.