The Ministry of the Interior has given assurance to the Italian Embassy in Accra that the security agencies would do all within their power to protect Italian citizens.

Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, Deputy Minister of the Interior, told the Italian Deputy Head of Chancellery in Ghana, Mr Basilo Antonio Toth, that Italians should, therefore, move about freely and go about their businesses normally.

A statement in Accra on Friday said Mr Toth had gone to the Ministry for a briefing on the murder by armed robbers in Cape Coast of Mr Roberto Massino, 62, Managing Director of BRM Wood Processing Company.

The statement signed by Mr E.P.D. Barnes, Chief Director of the Ministry, said the Mr Asiedu described murder as regrettable and sad and expressed the condolences of the government to the family of the deceased and the Italian Embassy.

Mr Toth had expressed the concern of the embassy about the implications of the murder on other Italians, who had become apprehensive and feared for their security. "This feeling is shared by the Italian Government, which has instructed the Embassy to express its concerns to the Ghanaian government," the statement quoted Mr Toth as saying.

He added that this could have a possible negative impact on the international scene.

Mr Ernest Owusu-Poku, Inspector-General of Police, briefed Mr Toth about the investigations into the murder and said the Police would do everything possible to apprehend the perpetrators.