Negotiate with Libya for compensation

The Minority Spokesman on Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, has called on the government to open negotiations with its Libyan counterpart to compensate Ghanaians who lost their property in the recent disturbances in Libya.

In a statement in parliament yesterday, Mr. Owusu-Agyeman said many Ghanaians who have been flown home and others awaiting repatriation lost almost all their property during the crisis. He said Ghana's economy is not in the best form and if the evacuees should come home without their hard-earned property, it would aggravate the economic situation and possibly lead to revenge by the affected people.

Mr. Owusu-Agyeman said Libyans should be reminded that as Africans, they must not be supervising atrocities on Ghanaians but rather consider them as brothers and sisters, adding that the ill treatment of the Ghanaians calls for condemnation instead of a subtle attempt to rationalise it. Mr. Owusu-Agyemna, who is also the NPP member for New Juaben North, said the influx of Ghanaians to Libya and elsewhere is the result of the worsening economic condition in Ghana and called for its improvement.

Speaking in support of the statement, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku(NPP, Offinso North) said although Ghanaians leave the country for other places due to the deplorable economic conditions, it is sad that the country's missions abroad do not assist them when they are in distress.

Mr. Ebenezer kobina Fosu (NDC, Asikuma Odoben-Brakwa) said although the incident is an unfortunate one, any Ghanaian travelling to settle in another country must posses valid documents and be prepared to abide by the laws of those countries. He commended President Rawlings for his personal involvement in bringing the Ghanaians home.

When he took his turn, the PCP member for Mion, Alhaji Ibrahim Alabira, asked the MP's to be cautious in order not to do anything that would strain the existing cordial relations between Ghana and Libya. Nana Akufo-Addo (NPP, Abuakwa) said the government must ensure that Ghanaians living in other countries are properly protected.

Nii Adjei Boye-Sekan (NDC, Ledzokuku) said the government is doing its best to address the situation. The PCP member for Evalue Gwira, MR. Kojo Armah, asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that all monies deposited by the evacuees with the Ghana Embassy in Tripoli are returned to them. In another statement the NDC member for Asuogyamnan, Mr. Kwame Dwamena-Aboagye called on the Volta River Authority Resettlement Trust Board to extend electricity supply to 106 communities in the Volta Lake Resettlement areas.

The House earlier paid tribute to the late Innocent Mahamadu Yahaya, NDC Member for Chereponi, who passed away on September 12, this year, describing him as humble and hard working.