Ghana, Gambia agree on panel to investigate killings

Ghana and Gambia had agreed on a joint panel to investigate and establish the truth in the killings of some Ghanaian nationals in the neighbouring West African State.

This was the outcome of a meeting between the two countries under the auspices of ECOWAS and in the presence of United Nations (UN) forensic experts and the sub-Regional body's Foreign Ministers.

Mr. Akwasi Osei-Adjei, the Foreign Minister, headed Ghana's side to the talks, ahead of the 33rd summit of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government held in the Burkina Faso capital, Ouagadougou on Friday.

The Press Secretary to President John Agyekum Kufuor, Mr Andrew Awuni, told a press briefing that Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Frank Adu-Poku, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Director, and Gambia's Inspector General of Police (IGP) are both on the panel.

With this, Ghana's efforts at getting to the bottom of the matter for satisfactory resolution, had been taken to a new high level.

Meanwhile, the summit ended with the re-election of Burkina Faso President Blaise Campaore as ECOWAS Chairman for another one-year term.

Mr Awuni said the Leaders received the report of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas as well as those of the various departments, including the Peace and Security at a closed-door meeting.

They also agreed on the harmonization of the interim Economic Partnership Agreements signed separately between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire with the European Union (EU) with a view to adopting the best case scenario and to use it as a roadmap for negotiating a permanent trade agreement for the entire sub-Region.

The signing of the interim EPA became necessary to prevent a void in trade relations with Europe following the expiry of the Cotonou agreement.