Remains of six Ghanaians killed in Italy to be flown in today

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD on Tuesday announced that the remains of the six Ghanaians killed in Italy will be flown to Ghana Tuesday evening and handed over to their families, after proper identification.

A release signed by Mr Akwasi Osei Adjei, sector Minister said he had met with the families yesterday December 22, 2008 to extend the condolences of the government and people of Ghana and also to brief them on developments so far.

It said it would be recalled that on September 18, this year, an unspecified number of person, mostly of African origin, were shot at without provocation in the Italian city of Naples, resulting in several deaths, including six Ghanaians.

The Ghanaians include Kwadwo Owusu Wiafe, Karim Yakubu (alias Awanfa), Kwame Antwi Julius Francis, all of Nkoranza and Ibrahim Muslim (alias Alhaji), Justice Sonny Abu, and Eric Affum Yeboah (alias Tailor) all of Kumasi.

The release said the motive of the crime remains unknown to date but it has been established that this cowardly and dastardly act was carried out by a group with links to the Casalesi clan of the Naples Camora Mafia.

It stated that in the aftermath of the killings the Minister summoned the Italian Ambassador to Ghana to condemn the incident in the strongest possible terms, while demanding that the Italian government took prompt action to apprehend and punish the perpetrators of the gruesome crime.

It said on the instructions of the Ministry, Ghana's Ambassador to Italy initiated discussions with the Italian authorities on a number of issues, including the expeditious investigation and prosecution of the culprits; repatriation of the remains of the deceased to Ghana for proper burial; and the appropriate compensation to be paid to the bereaved families.

The release said as a result of the cooperation received from the Italian authorities, the remains of the six Ghanaians will be flown to Ghana this evening and handed over to their families, after proper identification.

It stated that the Ministry, through the Ghana Embassy in Rome, will continue to remain engaged with the Italian authorities on matters that were outstanding from this unfortunate incident, including the judicial processes to determine the appropriate compensation that will be paid to the families of the victims.

The release said while regretting the circumstances under which the six compatriots lost their lives, the Ministry assured the general public of its commitment to protecting the interests and welfare of Ghanaian citizens residing abroad, legally or otherwise.