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Gambia News: Gambia, Ghana head strain relations

There are signs on the walls that Ghanaian authorities have now run out of patience over the failure of their Gambian counterparts to allow a full scale investigations into the killings of Ghanaian migrants in The Gambia. The matter has become so tense that it could result to strain relations between the two countries.

Ghanaian authorities would not understand why it has taken so long for investigations into the mass killings to take place. The Gambia has been blamed for stalling the process by refusing to cooperate.

"President Jammeh denied flat that no Ghanaian had been murdered in his territory and said it was all the work of his political enemies," Ghana's Foreign Affairs Legal Bureau Director, Mr Odoi Anim, told 'Joy News'.

"So we agreed on a date to meet and as the date drew near, we drew the attention of the Gambians and informed them of our arrival in Banjul…but as the date approached, they started introducing elements that are at variance with what had been previously agreed on."

Mr Anim said a team of investigators from Ghana is expected to visit The Gambia soon to demand President Jammeh's involvement.

Already, Ghanaian government has sent strongly-worded letter to President Jammeh, demanding his country’s full cooperation otherwise relations between the two countries could be strained.

Ghana's Foreign Ministry has so far confirmed the killings of 8 Ghanaians in The Gambia, although media reports put the toll at 44.

Ghanaian investigators have identified the scene of the murders and the boat carrying the victims prior to their abduction and killing.

Autopsy result of the 8 confirmed Ghanaians revealed that they died from shock.

“We saw where the gentlemen have been murdered. Yes 44 plus people died…we have identified positively 8 Ghanaians. Their family members have been notified…the preliminary investigations show they died of shock and trauma,” Amin said.

Alongside nationals from other African countries, the Ghanaian migrants were allegedly killed by Gambian soldiers who accused them of trying to dislodge President Jammeh from power in July 2005. Some bodies were found scattered along the Gambian coast a day after the event.