Ghana arrests 43 Ivorian ‘ex-combatants’

Accra – Ghana has arrested 43 Ivorians at a refugee camp who were suspected of previously fighting on behalf of the fallen Ivory Coast government of Laurent Gbagbo, an official and security source said on Monday.

Thousands of supporters of Gbagbo fled to Ghana during last year’s deadly electoral crisis. The United Nations recently charged that some were using Ghana as a base to unseat the current Ivorian government.

“The security forces on Saturday undertook an exercise to restore the civilian character of the camp. Some Ivorians were arrested but those arrested are being screened,” said chairperson of the Ghana Refugee Board Ken Dzirisah.

He said the raid on the refugee camp near Tarkoradi, a coastal area not far from the border, was aimed at flushing out those who previously fought against Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara.