More than 7,000 Ghanaians back from Libya so far

Accra, March 15, GNA - Five hundred and thirty more Ghanaians on Monday afternoon arrived at the Kotoka International Airport, from Libya aboard a chattered flight, bringing the number of evacuees from that country to more than 7,000.

The first batch of 55 Ghanaians was evacuated from Libya on February 26th this year, following political misunderstanding, which has thrown that country into anarchy.

Since the arrival of the first batch of evacuees, several flights keep bringing in more Ghanaians from Libya daily.

Initially, Ghana did not have permission from the Libyan authorities to land aircraft on that country for the evacuation.

The stranded Ghanaians in Libya were assembled at the Salum border post where they were processed and transported with the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Egyptian security agencies to a pre-departure holding at the Cairo International Airport, prior to their evacuation by air to Accra.

Currently, with landing permit granted to the Ghanaian officials, the evacuees are being airlifted from all Libyan cities and towns, including Tripoli, where it initially seemed impossible to undertake any such operation.

Mr Mohammed Ahmed Baba Jamal, a Deputy Minister for Information, was at the El-Wak Stadium on Monday to welcome the evacuees on behalf of the Ghana Government.

He condemned attacks by some Ghanaians on the Ghana Embassy in Libya, saying, "By attacking the Embassy, you have attacked the very Government that is ensuring your safety by organizing this evacuation."

Mr Jamal said it was unfortunate that they vented their frustrations on the Embassy, adding that all that the Government of Ghana did was to immediately organize an evacuation of its citizens from Libya as soon as news of the political turmoil in that country broke out.

He dispelled speculations that that money was to be payed by Ghanaians to agents for them to be evacuated.

Mr Jamal advised: "This exercise is being organized solely by the Government of Ghana. Do not give any monies to any one in order to be evacuated".

He said the exercise would continue until all Ghanaians in Libya are evacuated home.

Meanwhile, some of the returnees are being screened to identify, arrest and prosecute those who vandalized the Embassy.

The evacuation is being organized by the Government of Ghana with assistance form the IOM.