Ban welcomes deal aimed at ending tensions between Ghana and the Gambia

2 July - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the agreement reached by the Gambia and Ghana to end tensions that emerged after the deaths and disappearances of Ghanaian nationals on Gambian territory in 2005.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban applauded the two African countries “for their commitment to settle the differences between them in a peaceful and negotiated manner.”

The Gambia and Ghana signed a Joint Communiqué today in Sirte, Libya, where an African Union (AU) summit has also been taking place.

Mr. Ban said in the statement that “he trusts that the Joint Communiqué will strengthen the existing fraternal and cordial bilateral relationship between Ghana and the Gambia.”

He also expressed appreciation for what he described as “the immense contribution” of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), “which worked preventively and in partnership with the UN to resolve the problem between the two countries.”

Last year the UN and ECOWAS set up a joint fact-finding team to look into the deaths of the Ghanaians.