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Government resolves to
unravel deaths of Ghanaians in Gambia
Accra, March 20, Ghanadot/GNA – Vice President
John Dramani Mahama on Friday re-echoed the commitment of government to
work towards unravelling the circumstances that led to the death of 44
Ghanaians in the Gambia.
Meeting with a joint United Nations – ECOWAS Commission Mission which is
investigating the incident at the Osu Castle, Vice President Mahama
stated that in as much as Ghana would like to improve her relation with
its West African neighbour, it would, nonetheless, not gloss over
alleged killing of her citizens.
A known advocate for the victims, dating back to his days as a Member of
Parliament, Vice President Mahama reiterated the desire to work towards
ascertaining the reasons that led to the death of the victims so as to
assuage the pain of the distraught family members.
Ghanaians woke up to the unpleasant news on July 23, 2005, of the
alleged killing of 44 of their compatriots and nine other West African
nationals in the Gambia.
The news generated a national furore against The Gambia, compelling the
then government to press the ECOWAS Commission and the United Nations to
conduct an independent investigation into the case, so as establish the
complicity or otherwise of the Gambian security apparatus in the melee.
Subsequently, the two institutions did set up a joint mission on August
15, 2008, tasked with investigating the issue under the chairmanship of
eminent Jamaican diplomat, Ambassador Curtis Ward.
The presence of the mission in the country was to enable the team
interview some surviving victims and collate additional information from
other sources that might help to shed some light on the incident.
Vice President Mahama expressed government’s confidence in the expertise
of the team, assuring them that Ghana would respect their verdict,
although he also conveyed the anxiety of the generality of the Ghanaian
populace over the issue.
He said Ghana wants the “unfortunate” incident investigated so that
those found culpable for the dastardly act would be brought to book and
also allow for a thawing in the relationship between the two countries.
Vice President Mahama also expressed delight about the cooperation
received from Gambia, which he said, would enable a successful closure
of what he described as a “sad chapter” in the relation between the two
countries.
Ambassador Curtis Ward told the Vice President that some headway had
been made in forming some conclusions as to what happened, although he
conceded that it would still take some time before a definite report
would be issued.
Ambassador Ward said the team had received cooperation from the two
countries and has received similar support from surviving persons, and
families of some of the victims.
Other members of the mission included Justice Ariranga Pillay, President
of the South African Development Community Tribunal, Justice Albert
Redhead, a retired Appeal Court Judge and Mr Morie Lengor, a security
expert with the ECOWAS Commission.
GNA
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