President Mills, Faure discuss refugee situation

Accra, May 26, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills and his Togoles e counterpart, President Faure Gnassingbe are discussing the solution to Ghanaians fleeing to the neighbouring State, following ethnic unrests in Northern Ghana. President Mills has already ordered a security beef-up and military reinforcement in the affected areas as Ghana and Togo co-operate to bring

the refugees back home.

Mr Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Information, briefed journalists about the measures after Colonel Mohammed Atcha Titikpina, Togolese Minister for National Security held a closed-door meeting on the

refugee situation with President Mills at the Osu Castle in Accra, on Wednesday. He said President Mills thanked President Gnassingbe and his Governm ent for the support given to the Ghanaian compatriots.

Mr Okudzeto-Ablakwa said President Mills was quite satisfied with th e co-operation between the two countries, as they both worked on the roadma p to get the Ghanaians back home. He denied media reports that Ghanaians taking refuge in Togo were ab out 3,500 and said the number was about 1,000.

Mr Okudzeto-Ablakwa was also firm that the meeting between President

Mills and the Togolese National Security Minister did not emanate from recent media reports on the refugee situation but part of on-going negotiations between the two countries. He said UNHCR and National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) were supporting Togo in providing care for the refugees. Mr Okudzeto-Ablakwa announced that three vehicles with relief items had been dispatched to the affected districts in Northern Ghana.