Avoka: Attack on Ghana's Ambassador to Guinea was regrettable

Accra, Aug. 19, GNA - The Minister of the Interior, Mr Cletus Avoka, on Tuesday observed that although the assault of Ghana's Ambassador to Guinea, Mr Dominic Aboagye last week, was regrettable it should not in any way affect the cordial ties between the two countries. Mr Avoka made the observation when Mr Alexander Cee Loua, Guinean Minister of Foreign Affairs called on him in Accra.

He said security issues were a bother to Ghana and Guinea as armed bandits and criminals still operated in both countries. The Guinean Minister, who is in the country in connection with the attack on the Ambassador, formally apologised to the government and people of Ghana, when he met President John Evans Atta Mills at the Osu Castle.

A statement issued by the Ministry said Mr Avoka recounted similar incidents on some Guinean students who were robbed of their valuables in Ghana in 2005 and other attacks on other nationals resident in Ghana. He said all these pockets of incidents did not emanate from government since armed gangs operated on their own.

On the political situation in Guinea, Mr Avoka expressed optimism that the Guinean government would live up to the expectation of the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union to organise peaceful elections.

Mr Avoka said though democracy was very expensive it was the only alternative for participatory governance, adding that a lot of lessons could be drawn from Ghana's Electoral Commission staff, who had endeared themselves well in organising elections not only in Ghana but in other countries.

He reiterated the commitment of government to tackle the drug trafficking problem, which had reared its ugly head in the West Africa sub-region, with all the seriousness that it deserved. Such commitments had led to the installation of gadgets at both the Kotoka International Airport and the Tema Harbour for the detection of drugs concealed in baggage and containers.

Mr Avoka assured the Minister of the preparedness of the law enforcement agencies to collaborate with their Guinean counterparts in the fight against crime and drugs.

Mr Loua said the Guinean government deeply regretted the attack on the Ambassador, which was committed by bandits under the guise of the security agencies.

It said the people of Guinea were preparing for elections slated for January 2010 and a lot of lessons would be learnt from Ghana. He pledged the determination of the Guinea government to tackle the drug menace and crime.

Mr Loua also met citizens of Guinea and commended them for co-existing peacefully with Ghanaians and asked them to continue to be law abiding.

He briefed them on the political situation at home and preparations for presidential and parliamentary elections in January and March 2010 respectively.

Mr Iddrisu Mumuni Dimbie, President of the Ghana-Guinea Friendship Association for Integration and Development, also commended the government of Guinea for sending an envoy to Ghana to explain the cause of the attack on the Ghanaian Ambassador.