37 Ghanaians airlifted from Equatorial Guinea

Accra, March 14, GNA Thirty-seven Ghanaian evacuees including a female stranded in Equatorial Guinea were on Saturday airlifted to Accra by an airforce plane.

The government of Ghana ordered for the exercise to be carried out and those who arrived were the first batch of about 250 Ghanaians who have taken refugee in the Ghanaian Consulate in that country and would be lifted back home.
Mr Francis Tsegah, a Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who accompanied the evacuees, told the GNA that priority was being given to the 105 Ghanaians who have been rounded up and detained by the Police in Equatorial Guinea.

He said apart from Ghanaians, nationals from other countries were rounded up, following the alleged coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea. The Airforce Commander, Air Vice Marshal, Eddie Mantey also accompanied the evacuees.
Seven of them looked sick and were sent to the 37 Military Hospital while the rest were sent to the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) for screening.
Some looked worn out with and other had their heads shaven and bruises all over their bodies.
The evacuees said the situation in that country was very tense and expressed appreciation to the government for ensuring their evacuation home.
Some of the returnees told the GNA that they stayed in Equatorial Guinea for between one to three years and alleged that they were molested and maltreated by security personnel there, and were not allowed to take their belongings along.
Mr Kwesi Osei Adjei, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, met the evacuees on arrival.