Govt on the murder of Ghanaians in Gambia

Accra, Jan. 15, GNA - The government on Tuesday reiterated its resolve to end investigations on the murder and disappearance of about 44 Ghanaians in the Gambia following the submission of a final report by a team of Ghanaian investigators.

The measure is to ensure that justice prevailed and that the perpetrators of the act in the Gambia were individually and collectively held accountable for their actions, a statement signed by Mrs. Oboshie Sai-Cofie, Minister of Information and National Orientation said.

The statement noted that after review of the report by Government, it had decided to refer the matter to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) adding, "Ghana will also continue to avail herself of all other diplomatic and international legal means to ensure that impunity did not triumph over accountability".

"It would be recalled that during the last Commonwealth Heads of States and Government meeting in Kampala, Uganda, a joint statement was issued by the government of the Gambia and Ghana, calling upon the United Nations and ECOWAS to oversee the conduct of an independent investigation into the killings", it said, adding that, the Gambian authorities had agreed to a third-party independent authentication of the investigation by either ECOWAS or other international bodies. "Government reassures grieving family members who are justifiably seeking the truth concerning the murder or disappearance of their loved ones, and urges them to remain calm whilst a full-scale international investigation is conducted. Government fully shares their concern and is doing everything in their best interest to resolve the matter", it said.