General News of Tuesday, 24 September 2002

Source: .

Ivorian Crisis Affects Drivers At Elubo

Drivers who ply the Takoradi-Elubo-Abidjan route, have noted with concern the low patronage of transport service by travellers to Cote D'Ivoire or to Ghana.

They noted that since the "attempted coup" was announced in Cote D'Ivoire, they have never done brisk business as they used to be, but hoped the situation would soon normalise. The Western Regional Chairman of the Takoradi-Elubo-Abidjan branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Mr Thomas Eghan told the Ghana News Agency in Takoradi that although there is insecurity in Cote D'Ivoire, their counterparts in that country have not requested for any assistance to convey displaced persons to their countries of origin.

He said the branch in Takoradi has been assisting in various ways and are on the alert to dispatch vehicles to evacuate Ghanaians safely home if things become worse. The Western Regional Directorate of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees told the GNA that the Commission would provide shelter for Ivorians, who seek asylum, but stressed that any Ghanaian returning home would not be accommodated as a refugee.