Navy vessels on evacuation mission in Malabo

Accra, March 16, GNA - The Ghana Navy has despatched two vessels to evacuate Ghanaians wishing to leave Equatorial Guinea, following reported harassment of West African nationals after an attempted coup in that country.

At least 300 Ghanaians fleeing arbitrary arrests and detention are currently seeking refuge at the Ghana Mission in the capital, Malabo, Evacuation Coordinators told the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday. The Coordinators said those at the Malabo Mission would be the priority target of evacuation by the Naval vessels as well as other Ghanaians wishing to come along. On the vessels were officials of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), health professionals and Journalists.

Each of the two vessels - GNS Bonsu and GNS Anzone - can carry about 500 people and are expected back at the Tema Port with the evacuees in a week's time.

The Ghana Air Force has flown home 119 evacuees, who were detained at the Central Police Station in Malabo, in three batches between last Saturday and Monday.

Many of the evacuees, who looked ruffled and in dirty clothes with some of them wearing only undershirts and shorts, told the GNA that they were picked up at their workplaces and in their homes. Some also said they were rounded up in the streets.

They complained that they were detained under unhealthy conditions without being allowed to retrieve their belongings under the pretext that they did not have valid resident permits.

"They did not even allow me to go home and bid my wife and children farewell let alone take my belongings to the Police Station," said 45 year-old Frederick Arthur from Swedru, who said he had lived in that country for 14 years and worked as security officer with the University of Malabo.

A much younger boy, Yaw George, 25, said he was also picked up while helping at a construction site and bundled into a vehicle to detention. He said he had gone into hiding in the bush initially but had to resurface in the town after numerous Police swoops on them in the bush.

George alleged that the Police shot dead a lot of people, who were hiding in the bush.

Like other immigrants from Africa, George said he entered Equatorial Guinea illegally by boat from Cameroon to seek greener pastures on hearing that the country was rich in oil. Most of the evacuees admitted to the GNA that they had no valid resident permits at the time of their arrest. Others also alleged that their valid documents had been seized and destroyed by rampaging Policemen.

Among those evacuated so fare were at least five sick people, who were sent to the 37 Military Hospital.

On arrival, security agents and health professionals screen the evacuees after which they are given money to pay their transportation fare to their various hometowns.