National security operatives swoop on Ivorian refugees

Following the arrest of some suspected Ivorian ex-combatants over the weekend by operatives of the Ghana National Security, Ivorian refugees at the Ampain Camp have deserted the place.

In a fierce swoop by National Security, 40 people were yesterday picked up and are currently in custody.

The Chairman of the Ghana Refugee Board, Kenneth Dzirasah, has, however, declined to give details of the number of people arrested.

He told Joy FM, an Accra-based radio station, that the exercise was informed by intelligence gathered over the last few weeks, adding that the swoop was in the interest of the Ivorian refugees.

The swoop comes some days after of a damning United Nations (UN) security report, which indicted Ghana of harbouring Ivorian mercenaries suspected to be masterminding to overthrow the Alassane Ouattara-led government.

Mr. Dzirasah noted that those arrested were believed to be ex-combatants who escaped from the Eagle Camp, after a botched attempt to apprehend them. That camp has since been closed down.

He suspected that those ex-combatants have infiltrated other refugee camps in the country, saying, “The exercise was done to restore the civil character of the camp by trying to identify those we suspect are ex-combatants, and are hiding in the camp.”

Our checks at the Ampain Camp revealed that the refugees were living in a state of discomfort and uncertainty.

The refugees, mainly supporters of former Ivoirian President Laurent Gbagbo, told our correspondent that the exercise was conducted with the support of the Ivorian government.

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