President authorises immediate evacuation of Ghanaians

...from Equatorial Guinea
President John Agyekum Kufuor has authorised the immediate evacuation of all Ghanaians from Equatorial Guinea who wish to leave, following the deteriorating security there after an alleged coup attempt.

Consequently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has set up a task force to coordinate the exercise, which involves the mobilisation of the Navy and Air Force, a statement released in Accra on Friday said.

The statement, signed by Mrs Joanna Fosu, Acting Director of Information, Culture and Linguistics Bureau of the Foreign Ministry, said the Equatorial Guinea government had been contacted to remind it of its obligation with regard to giving protection and safety to Ghanaians resident in that country.

The Ministry said it had been informed by the Ghana Consulate-General in Malabo that foreign nationals in Equatorial Guinea, including Ghanaians were being subjected to various forms of harassment, including detention by local authorities.

"As a result 350 Ghanaians have sought refuge in the Consulate-General, and about another 300 are on the advice of the Consulate General, in hiding in other parts of the country", the statement said.

According to the Consulate-General, 60 Ghanaians have also been detained by the Equatorial Guinean authorities.

The statement assured the general public that every effort was being made to bring Ghanaian Nationals home "safe and sound".