262 GHANAIANS IN SOUTH AFRICA LOST HOMES

TWO hundred and sixty-two Ghanaians were displaced and their property worth thousands of dollars destroyed during the recent xenophobic attacks on Africans in South Africa, Dr Jimmy Ben Heymann, Ghana’s High Commissioner, has said.

Speaking in an interview here on Thursday, ahead of President J.A. Kufuor’s meeting with the Ghanaian community, he stated that no Ghanaian was killed.

He said the High Commission is making efforts to re-integrate the displaced persons into the communities where they live.

So far, more than 50 foreigners, mostly Africans died in the attacks.

At the meeting, President Kufuor directed the High Commission to assist 71 out of the 262 displaced Ghanaians who have decided to return home.

Earlier in the day, President Kufuor met his South African counterpart, Thabo Mbeki, to discuss the matter, among other continental security issues.

Responding to questions and suggestions from the Ghanaians, President Kufuor said the government will discuss with the South Africans the need to compensate the victims most of whom lost their property.

He also assured the people that the government will negotiate with the South African government for it to provide extra security for Ghanaians to enable them to smoothly go about their duties.

President Kufuor urged the people to be united and law abiding in whatever they do to win the trust and confidence of the South African government and people.

He said the government and people of Ghana were worried when news of the attacks broke and horrible pictures of brutalities were being shown on television stations.

He said the government quickly instructed the High Commissioner to investigate the matter and submit a formal report on it and expressed happiness that no Ghanaian has been killed so far.

The President said he decided to meet them personally to enable him to make a case on their behalf to President Mbeki who has been worried over the issue since it started.

President Kufuor briefed them on the progress being made at home and said none of them should feel reluctant to return home if that person wants to do so.

He reminded them of the forthcoming general election in Ghana and assured them that it will be very peaceful.

The President asked the people to ignore comments by some people that there will be war during the election, saying 'we have served Ghana well and I believe Ghanaians will retain us'.