High-powered Ghana-Togo Govt delegations meet at "refugee" zone

Gbaduak (N/R), May 29, GNA - A high-powered government delegations from Ghana and Togo, on Friday, met at Gbaduak, the site of the "refugees" camps to find an amicable solution to the plight of the displaced people of Bunkpurugu.

The Ghana side included the National Security Coordinator, Lieutenant Colonel (rtd) Gbevlo-Lartey, (Leader) the Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Moses Mabengba, the Director General of Police Operations, Deputy Commissioner of Police, John Kudalo, MP for Bunkpurugu Emmanuel Kwabena Duut.

The Togolese delegation was led by their National Security Minister, Col. Atcha Titikpina Mohamed and the UNHCR Country Representative Mr. Ibrahima Traore.

Lt. Col. Gbevlo-Lartey commended the Togolese Government for assisting the Ghanaians to find places to live during the difficulties and urged the two nations to continue fostering good relations to promote peace in the Sub-region. He said the Ghana government had made available relief items to be distributed soon to the people while measures were being taken to deploy Police and Military personnel to the area. The Security Coordinator urged the people who were still at the camps to return to Ghana because there was peace, adding that tents would also be constructed for those who had lost their homes through the torching of houses. The Togolese Minister of Security, Col. Titikpina observed that Ghanaians and Togolese were one people and what affected one, affected the other.

"Togo is not forcing the Ghanaians to stay but they could do so at their own will," he added.

The UNHCR Country Representative, Togo, said the organization was only a humanitarian one and did not have enough logistics for the people if they continued to stay there.

He said the UNHCR had been able to give the people some relief items including soap, blankets, mats and gari from the Togo government. Six communities with a total of 375 houses were destroyed during the communal clashes on April 20 this year, resulting in some people crossing to Togo for refuge.

The Togo Government, therefore, decided to build four camps of about fifteen tents to host the displaced Ghanaians.