New Town (W/R), July 31, GNA - Border officials at New Town near Hal= f Assini have detained 26 school children from Abrobeano in the Central Region, who attempted to cross the border to Cote D' Ivoire without the requisite travelling documents. The children, 17 boys and 9 girls who claimed they were travelling to their relatives at Big Assinie in Cote d' Ivoire, have been handed over t= o the Police at Half Assini.

According to a spokesman for the Half Assini Police, the children were travelling to their relatives to do fishing at the four fishing communities in that country.

The children who ranged from the primary to the JHS level gave their names as Moses Mogeska, Sara Quarcoe, Mary Abbam, Sara Willson, Oduro Agustine, Anthony Mensah, Brihima Kassim and Eshun Francis all of the District Assembly Junior Secondary School at Abrobeano. The others are Sara Otoo, Emma Kwesi, Emmanuel Kwesi, Stephen Kumson, Godwin Kofi, Francis Ansah, Kofi Mends.

The rest are Ben Quansah, Mechel Tano, Lydia Mesnah, John Antobam and Atta Aidoo. The children who looked very worried told the Ghana News Agency at the Half Assini Police station that they were visiting their parents and other relatives to collect their school fees and money for their up-keep. Meanwhile the Jomoro District Assembly is catering for them with food and their beddings.

At the time of filing this report, some of the parents who heard of th= e arrest of their children, have arrived at the Half Assini station to seek their release. They said if the children were prevented from visiting their relatives to collect money for their up-keep, it would be difficult for some of them to continue their education. It would be recalled that about 30 school children were arrested last year at the Moree Police barrier on a Half Assini bound vehicle on suspicio= n of being trafficked to Cote D' Ivoire.