Ghana Prevents Congolese Exiles Meeting In Accra

Accra, Ghana (PANA) - Ghana's foreign ministry said Thursday that it did not allow a scheduled meeting in Accra by exiled Congolese opposition members, led by ex-President Pascal Lissouba, due to its partisan nature.

The ministry stated in a statement that the organisers of the meeting had failed to obtain the prior consent of the government of Ghana. It described a communique purported to have been adopted and issued in Accra by Lissouba and his compatriots to confirm the holding of the meeting as "calculated to mislead."

It said the government's concern regarding the holding of such a partisan meeting on its territory without prior clearance and the negative image it was likely to create for the country were brought forcefully to the attention of Lissouba.

"He and his colleagues were accordingly denied assembly for the meeting and requested to leave Ghana forthwith," the statement said, adding that a few hours later, Lissouba and his colleagues were assisted to leave the country.

Congolese President Denis Sassou-Ngueso of Congo Tuesday sent an envoy, Markin Adouki, to Accra with a message for President Jerry Rawlings.

The statement recalled that government received information 16 February that Lissouba and a group of opposition in exile intended to hold "a clandestine political meeting" in Accra 19 February.

Lissouba subsequently arrived 17 February, and although he failed to declare the real purpose of his visit, he was admitted into the country for the night because of his status as a former head of state.

According to the statement, the following day, he was informed categorically by the foreign minister that the scheduled meeting would not be allowed because of its partisan nature.

The ministry reiterated that Ghana enjoys the friendship and confidence of all citizens of Congo and was therefore disappointed at the unnecessary attempt by Lissouba to involve Ghana in the internal differences of that country.

It added that government stands ready to contribute towards the restoration of peace, security and reconciliation in Congo but insists that such a role must be "transparent, non-partisan and at the express request of the government and people of that country."

Lissouba was ousted in October 1997 after a bitter war with Sassou-Ngueso.