Ghana Embassy Abandons Ghanaians In Earthquake/Tsunami Devastated Japan

Exclusive information reaching Peacefmonline.com indicates that the Ghana Embassy in Japan has temporarily closed down as a result of the current prevailing conditions in the capital, Tokyo, after the earthquake cum tsunami that hit the North-eastern part of the country on Friday, 11th March 2011.

According to a source in Tokyo, the embassy moved to Korea without any information to Ghanaians living in Japan and it is causing panic among Ghanaians in the Earthquake and Tsunami devastated country, adding more salt to injuries.

But peacefmonline.com is also reliably informed that the Ghanaian mission in Japan relocated to South Korea to safeguard the safety of the staff.

Japan Foreign Ministry had revealed on Wednesday that Embassies from more than two dozen countries have either closed down or moved operations to cities south of Tokyo since the March 11 earthquake and the resulting nuclear crisis in northern Japan.

The embassies closed down or moved include embassies from five European countries, Germany and Switzerland inclusive; 14 African countries, including Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana; and four from Latin America.

According to a Ghanaian resident in Japan, Benard Kwame Oppong-Kusi, who spoke to Peacefmonline.com, notices have been posted on the entrance of the Embassy, one of which reads; “the world is coming to an end we have to get out of here”.

Another notice also reads, “It is announced for the information of Ghanaian nationals and the general public that in view of the current conditions prevailing in The Tokyo Metropolis, the Embassy will be temporarily closed from Tuesday, 22nd March, 2011 until further notice.”

He added that some local staff who have worked at the Embassy for some years were unceremoniously left behind including some Ghanaian nationals and their families.

He revealed most Ghanaian residents in Japan have not been contacted by the embassy since the unfortunate incident, adding that when you go to the Ghana Embassy’s website, there are only undated notices which include outdated information about the World Cup, Obama’s Visit to Ghana and a message from the Ambassador who was recalled some months ago.

He also disclosed that some concerned Ghanaians citizens are taking the power into their own hands to open an information office in Tokyo to help about 1900 (registered) Ghanaians in Japan.