THIS MUST NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN (DEC 11, 2010)

IN July 2005 an unspecified number of Ghanaians lost their lives under bizarre and tragic circumstances in The Gambia.
A number of accounts of the incident, including one from the sole survivor of the tragic event, alleged that as many as 44 Ghanaians had been killed and that they had been murdered with the complicity of Gambian security forces.
Following the intervention of the government of Ghana, investigations were conducted into the matter by a joint United Nations (UN) and ECOWAS team which found that the lives lost were far lower, while many others were unaccounted for.
Even though the report did not directly blame the Gambian government for the deaths, in recognition of its responsibility as the state within whose jurisdiction the said incidents occurred, The Gambia accepted some obligations, including paying compensation for the lives lost and facilitating the retrieval and return of the remains to Ghana for interment.
It is worthy of note that only yesterday the remains of eight victims of the said tragic event were finally laid to rest at the Osu Cemetery in a state-organised and assisted funeral (see front page).
While this event will forever leave a sour taste in the mouths of Ghanaians, the co-operation of the Gambian government, albeit one extracted largely from intense international pressure, and its acceptance of some obligations have helped to pull the matter from the brink.
The initial denial of the event and the shocking levels of disinterest in carrying out investigations by the Gambian government raised domestic pressure in Ghana for the matter to be probed and for the Gambian government to accept its responsibilities and obligations in the matter.
Among others, a number of international laws and treaties, including the International Refugee Law which The Gambia is a signatory to, oblige The Gambia to not only protect the lives of foreigners within its territory but also accord them certain basic or fundamental human rights.
The fact that both Ghana and The Gambia are members of the ECOWAS fraternity and the victims ECOWAS community citizens raised the level of obligation of The Gambia in the matter.
While we acknowledge that the current level of development of the matter does pave the way for a thaw and even an improvement in relations between our two fraternal relations and people, the entire case is by no means closed.
Like any other crime, local or international, there is no statute bar or closure to such cases and any time fresh evidence can be procured or adduced to support the reopening of the matter, it must and will be done in the supreme cause of ensuring that not only will justice be done but it will be seen to be manifestly done.
We see in this tragedy two important lessons, among others.
First, Ghanaians seeking asylum or economic opportunities in other nations need to take steps to regularise or legitimise their stay in those nations so that they can enjoy the full protection of both the laws of those nations and the diplomatic support of Ghana’s missions there.
Second, nations of the ECOWAS fraternity need to improve upon the enforcement of democracy and human rights protocols and agreements, as well as exert greater control on and accountability of the actions of the security services within their domain.
This is the way forward to enhancing the rights of all ECOWAS citizens and ensuring that this never happens again anywhere in the sub-region or on the entire African continent.
We once again express our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, empathise with them in this difficult moment and pray that the Almighty God will give them the strength and the means to carry on with their lives.