Libya Deports 98 Ghanaians

Paga (U/E), June 24, - Ninety-eight Ghanaians deported from Libya have arrived at the Paga border post in the Upper East region. The dirty and tired looking deportees including one woman were conveyed to Paga by buses chartered by the Ghana embassy in Ouagadougu, Burkina Faso. According to Mr Joseph Okra, one of the deportees, they were arrested at their various workplaces and detained for periods between two and three months before their deportation. He said they were not allowed to go home to pick any of their belongings and were man-handled and during their arrest and detention. He said about 50 more Ghanaians are languishing in Libya cells awaiting repatriation. Mr Okra, however, admitted that most of them entered Libya illegally but managed to secure gainful employment as fitters, house boys, artisans and labourers. Fifty-four of the deportees were from the Brong Ahafo, 18 from Ashanti, seven from Northern and five from Greater Accra Regions. Four others were four from the Western region, two each from the Eastern and Central and one from the Upper East regions. Receiving them at the Paga border, Mr Donald Adabre, Upper East Regional Minister, advised them to learn from their experiences and stay at home to help build the country. He said the Regional Co-ordinating Council would provide buses to convey them to their regional capitals.