Gambian government to assist 44 murdered Ghanaians
By Awudu Salami Sule
The Government of Gambia has agreed to compensate the
families of 44 Ghanaians who were murdered in that country
in 2005.
Deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, told
Joy FM today that the two
governments arrived at the decision in Libya after a
discussion between Presidents Atta Mills and Yahya Jammeh.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 11th Summit of
the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) which the two
leaders are attending.
Mr Ablkwa revealed that, a memorandum of understanding was
signed today to facilitate the payment of support to the
families of the deceased, whose bodies are to be exhumed for
a befitting burial in Ghana.
The 44 Ghanaians were said to be among other African
nationals murdered in cold blood in The Gambia on July 22,
2005 while they transited there en route to Europe.
The migrants were mistaken for a band of mercenaries that
had sneaked into the country to ostensibly oust President
Yahya Jammeh.
When the news broke out, the Gambian government initially
denied the report.
Not convinced, the Government of Ghana demanded an
investigations into the matter and in August 15, 2008, the
UN and ECOWAS Commission set up an international
investigative panel to look into the case in order to
restore cordial relations between the two countries which
stood at the brink of a diplomatic row.
The investigative panel released its report in June this
year after eight months of investigations in Abuja, Nigeria
and recommended that compensation be paid to the relatives
of the victims.
But the recommendations were also rejected by The Gambian
government arguing the killings were not state-sponsored.
According to the deputy Information Minister, it would be a
major feat for the Attah Mills government if the latest
development on the murdered Ghanaians is finalised.
President Mills is also expected to meet the Libyan leader
Muammar al-Gadafi later today to strike some oil deals.
The president would also push for a better treatment of
Ghanaians detained in Libya, who are reported to be
receiving inhuman treatment and may appeal for their
transfer back to Ghana.
Ghanadot
