Gambia to exhume bodies of 44 Ghanaians

President John Evans Atta Mills has promised that Ghana will co-operate with the Gambian Authorities to exhume the bodies of 44 Ghanaians killed in the Gambia. This is part of the recommendation of the joint UN-ECOWAS Commission Report that they should be given a fitting burial and compensation paid to the families.

He said the unfortunate period is over and the two countries should cooperate for the benefit of their people.

President Mills said this when he received letters of credence from four envoys designate to Ghana at the Castle, Osu.

The first to present his letter of credence was the Zambian High Commissioner, Cecil Holmes, followed by Ackah Emmanuel Auguste of Cote D’Ivoire, the Gambian High Commissioner to Ghana, Angela Colley and the Swedish High Commissioner Per Lindgarde.

President Mills said doubts associated with the unfortunate incident which occurred in 2005 and nearly marred relations between the two countries would be dealt with and called on the new High Commissioners to work hard to erase such doubts.

Gambia High Commissioner, Angela Colley said Ghana and Gambia have a lot in common and the unfortunate incident which occurred in 2005 should not strain the relationship.

She pledged to work hard to strengthen relations between the two countries.Receiving the Ivorian Ambassador, Ackah Emmanuel Auguste, President Mills said African countries should work to invigorate their economies.

There is a lot to be derived when Africans pool their resources. President Mills remarked “let the ideals of the African Union stimulate African leaders for such cooperation”.

He congratulated the Ivorian President, Laurent Gbagbo for the successful completion of the voter registration exercise paving the way for elections to be held.

President Mills Assured the Ivorian Ambassador of Ghana’s support to ensure successful elections.

The Ivorian ambassador on his part called on President Mills to continue to support Cote D’Ivoire for the country to have total peace.