UN, ECOWAS investigate deaths of Ghanaians in The Gambia
Posted by African Press International on August 16, 2008
A joint United Nations-ECOWAS fact-finding team on the death of a number of Ghanaian nationals found dead in The Gambia in 2005 was launched Friday in Abuja, according to a statement by the ECOWAS Commission issued on Friday in Abuja.
The statement said that the team, led by Mr. Curtis Ward, include a representative each appointed by the governments of The Gambia and Ghana.
According to the statement, the launching of the team was done by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, in the presence of Mr. Sammy Kum Buo, Director of Africa II Division in the Department of Political Affairs at the United Nations headquarters in New York, and of officials of the high commissions of The Gambia and Ghana in Abuja.
According to the statement, the fact-finding team, which will be supported by experts, will be based at the headquarters of the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja.
The statement said that Mr. Ward, who was jointed appointed by the United Nations and ECOWAS, would visit The Gambia and Ghana shortly for preliminary discussions with government officials.
It said that the joint UN-ECOWAS team was established at the request of the governments of The Gambia and Ghana to facilitate efforts by both governments to bring peaceful closure to the matter.
“The final resolution of the matter will also help to restore and strengthen the traditionally cordial relations between the two countries,” it said.
In June 2005, several dead bodies of people believed to be West African illegal immigrants were found near the beach in the Gambian fishing village of Brufut, about 15 kilometres from Banjul, the capital. There was however never any official explanation as to who those people were and what caused their deaths.
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‘API/Source.AP
