Government to evacuate Ghanaians from Libya

Accra, Feb. 25, GNA - Government has decided to evacuate the estimated 10,000 Ghanaian nationals in Libya by air and sea.

The action is in view of the serious deterioration in the security situation in Libya and the reports of violence. A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in Accra on Friday said Government would set up an Evacuation Task Force to undertake the exercise.

It would comprise the Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Information, National Security Council, National Disaster Management Organisation, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Police Service and Ghana Armed Forces. The Evacuation Task Force would operate from the Accra International Conference Centre and can be reached on 0302-787373, 0302-684887, 0302-227201 and 027-943-0330.

In view of the communication difficulties currently prevailing in Libya= , all distress calls received by relatives of Ghanaians in that country shoul= d be re-directed to the listed numbers. Liaison Offices are to be located on the Libya-Tunisia and Libya-Egypt borders in addition to the Ghana Embassy in Tripoli to process relevant documentation and other arrangements for the evacuation exercise. Reception centres are to be set up at the El-Wak Stadium and the Trade Fair Centre in Accra to receive evacuees. Meanwhile, about 60 Ghanaian nationals being evacuated from the Libya-Egyptian border are being processed to return to Ghana by air.