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| Acting Foreign Minister, Toga Gayewea-McIntosh |
Amidst conflicting reports over the death of some Liberians and the arrest of dozens of others in Ghana, Members of the House of Representatives have summoned Acting Foreign Minister, Toga Gayewea-McIntosh to provide details on the situation Thursday.
The move to summon the acting minister comes amidst conflicting reports, especially one provided by Liberian Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Rudolf Von Ballmoos and the Ministry of Information in Monrovia concerning the situation.
Some Ghanaian media have put the number of deaths between 1 to 5, with reports of Ghanaian state television showing bodies of unidentified Liberians, but the Ambassador has disputed the figure, saying that only a Ghanaian woman was reported killed at the Liberian settlement.
The move to summon Mr. McIntosh was also prompted by a complaint filed before the House’s Plenary by Montserrado District #3 Representative Ketterkumeh Murray accusing Ghanaians of uncontrollably and ruthlessly ill-treating Liberians in brutal style for a protracted period now.
Murray cited numerous instances including the gruesome murdered of a Liberian identified as Miller near the Refugees’ Camp; shooting of civilians at Buduburam Refugees Camp early this week by Ghanaian police which has reached its peak, adding that it is time for the Chief executive to act.
Also commenting on the situation, Montserrado District#5 Rep. Edwin Snowe suggested that Ambassador Von Ballmoos be recalled for allegedly misinforming the government and the citizenry, “everyone is saying Liberians were shot dead by Ghanaian Police, this ambassador has failed to provide trusted information as it relates to the crisis. He could not establish the actual story. He later lied that the woman killed was a Ghanaian, but BBC identified the deceased as a Liberian,” Snowe said.
Rep. Saah Richard Gbollie, commenting on the issue also stated that Ambassador Von Ballmoos does not deserved to continue to survive on taxpayers (money) because of his poor representation of the Liberian people in that land, “his irresponsible behaviors have caused Liberians to lost their precious lives”, he said.
Meanwhile, both the UNHCR and the Ghanaian government have also called for a full scale investigation into the matter.