Darfur Refugees Evacuated

The ministry of Interior has evacuated the Darfur asylum seekers from the Usher Fort to an unknown destination in the Western Region. The evacuation was done under the supervision of personnel from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the police.

The supervisors were tight-lipped about the exact destination of the asylum seekers when asked about it. They said they were there to supervise the evacuation process and did not know where the asylum seekers were being taken. They directed journalists to the Ministry of Interior for further information about the refugee's new location. Journalists were however disappointed when they went to the Ministry of Interior and were not given any meaningful information.

A source at the ministry said information would be given to the public at the appropriate time.

The over 200 asylum seekers who came to the country in April were camped in Usher Fort for screening by UNHCR and the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS). The screening was to ensure their credibility before the refugee status would be conferred on them. It would be recalled that some weeks back the asylum seekers attempted to escape from the Usher Fort where they had been accommodated, but the situation was brought under control by the security agencies.