Ivorian ministers, soldiers flee to Ghana

Sampa (Brong Ahafo Region) 16 - The rebel attack which is raging in neighbouring Ivory Coast has scared some government soldiers and ministers of that country into seeking accommodation in Ghana’s town of Sampa, putting us at the risk of inviting the rebels.

The soldiers sleep in the town, which is in the Brong Ahafo Region, after crossing over every night and return the next morning to duty in the Ivory Coast.

But the ministers, who seem more scared by the menacing forays of the rebels, have actually moved their wives, children and siblings to Sampa. Like the soldiers, the ministers ply the border route daily.

Four Ivorian soldiers who disguised themselves to register as refugees with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) later requested that their names be cancelled when the sensed they were about to be exposed.

Chronicle spotted a vehicle with registration number 8152 CXOI being driven by a prominent-looking man whom informants at Sampa described as one of the Ivorian ministers on Monday. The pulled by to purchase a few items at the Sampa market, apparently to stock the kitchen of his new temporary home.

Emmanuel Hormenoo, deputy superintendent of immigration in charge of the Sampa area, told Chronicle that police and custom officials from the war-torn country also joined the fleeing soldiers and ministers last week.

In an interview, he traced the desertion to 2 October, when, he said a rumour broke out that the rebels had attacked the town of Bondoukou, one of the important commercial towns of Ivory Coast. “Soon the border between the two countries was closed and when it was opened, the officials began streaming into Ghana,” said Hormenoo.

Asked whether Bondoukou was actually attacked, he said what happened was the testing of new arms procured for the Ivorian military unit based in Bondoukou. “It was the deafening noise made by the test shooting that shook the town and sent hundreds fleeing, the immigration officer explained.

Before the panic aroused in the Ivorian town could die down, it was established on 9 October that the rebels were advancing towards the town. Hormenoo said vehicles from Ghana were not allowed to enter the Ivory Coast, but the determined Ivorian soldiers, police, customs officials and politicians marched on foot from Bondoukou to Sampa.

Rebel soldiers who now call themselves Patriotic Movement of Cote d’Ivoire, staged an uprising on 19 September this year against the government of President Laurent Gbagbo and still hold areas in the north, including the cities of Bouake and Korhogo.

Various mediators, including the heads of state of the West African sub-region, have over the past three weeks been mediating for a ceasefire but that has, so far, proved unsuccessful. In the meantime, the rebels have been making significant gains in their forays, one of which seemed to have thrown Ivorian officials onto Ghana soil.

The deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Idriss, in an interview, confirmed fears entertained by observers that the influx of Ivorian officials into Ghana did not augur well for the security of Ghana.

“Certainly, if it is true, then it is not a healthy sign,” he said, assuring, however that the border between Ghana and the Ivory Coast is “being patrolled effectively.” In fact, Chronicle can confirm that as at Monday 14 October, soldiers seconded from the Liberation Barracks, Sunyani, were on red alert at Sampa.

Observers are however worried that if Ivorians continue to flee to Ghana, there might be serious repercussions. The rebels might pursue them into Ghana on the excuse that Ghanaians are harbouring them. Apart from the security implications, food and accommodation problems, coupled with health hazards, could create more headaches for Ghana.