Remains of murdered Ghanaians returned

  1. Posted on Tuesday 20 October 2009 - 09:40
    Kemo
    Image of Kemo
    Kemo Cham, AfricaNews reporter in Dakar, Senegal
    The remains of six Ghanaians murdered in Gambia, alongside a number of other West African nationals, some four years back, have been exhumed and returned home. The remains of the murdered Ghanaians were accompanied by a Gambian delegation headed by its Health Minister, DR Mariatou Jallow.
    ghana
    Earlier reports put the number of people murdered alongside 8 Ghanaians to about 150, although this has been strongly refuted by the Gambian authorities. The victims were said to include Nigerians and Senegalese. The Gambia government has strongly denies responsibility of the murders.

    The incident which occurred near a coastal settlement called Brufut, predominated by native Ghanaians, had restrained relationships between the two West African countries until recently when a UN backed ECOWAS panel released a report that barely cleared the Gambia government of any direct involvement.

    However, back home Ghanaians under their last government had exerted pressure on their leaders to ensure justice for their murdered compatriots. The fact that the issue was a subject in the subsequent Ghanaian presidential election also attracted President Yahya Jammeh’s attention as he referred to it in a subsequent interview, accusing Ghanaian politicians of exploiting the situation for their selfish political gains.

    According to the Ghana based Joy News, Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, stated that his country was bound by the report of the fact finding team, and that they could not make any claims beyond the facts presented by the team.

    Dr Mariatou Jallow, Gambia’s Health Minister, was reported to have expressed hope that this development will strengthen ties between the two countries.

    “We pray that the Almighty God will give fortitude and solace to the families of our beloved brethren who have left this life,” she was quoted as saying on arrival in Ghana.

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