About 51 (fifty-one) Ghanaians including women and children left the Lebanese capital Beirut en-route to Syria. The 51 Ghanaians, who registered with the Ghana consulate in Beirut to be evacuated from the war torn Lebanon left their gathering place at Joyful Road Jal-El-Dib aboard 2 (two) busses at around 8:30 am local time accompanied by H.E Mr. Michel Haddad, Consul of Ghana in Lebanon and a team from International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The group from Beirut were joined by 19 others at Lebanon’s Second capital, Tripoli bringing the total number of Ghanaians evacuated so far from Lebanon to 70 (seventy).

Initially about 350 (three and fifty) Ghanaians registered for the evacuation. But this number kept decreasing by each passing day and today only 70 people turned out for the evacuation.

An interview conducted prior to the departure of the coaches from Beirut shows that the evacuees are very grateful to the Ghana government for coming to their aid in this terrible time.

Ama Serwaah 36, said, “I like to thank God, and also the President of Ghana for remembering us here.” Sassine Shahin, a Lebanese Ghanaian whose three children and wife are with the group said, “We are sending the children because the situation is very bad. They can’t stand the bombardment,” he added “Our big thanks to President Kufour.” Miss Belinda Affram Essime also added her voice to the out pouring of gratitude.

She said “The government of Ghana heard our cry and have come to our aid.” She went on to say, “We also thank all Ghanaians for their consent and prayers for us.

But what all the Ghanaians who departed today as well as those who remain in Lebanon would like the government and the people Ghana to do on their behalf is to thank H.E. Mr. Michel Haddad, Consul of Ghana in Lebanon for his tireless effort, fatherly consent and professional maneuvering which made this evacuation successful.

The evacuees will be met in Syria by their Excellencies the Ghana Ambassadors from Egypt and Saudi Arabia and their consuls. The flight from Syria to Ghana is expected sometime in the evening.