The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Friday said it had credible information that the embattled Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo wants to seek asylum in Ghana.
Although the party did not name its source, it said Ghana is one of the countries Laurent Gbagbo has applied to seek asylum after his presidency became threatened. Clashes have spread to new areas in the country, raising fears of a return to civil war. Scores of people have been killed in violence since the disputed presidential elections in November 2010.
Mr. Gbagbo refuses to step down, although Mr. Ouattara is widely recognized as the winner of the election. Speaking to Citi News the Communications Director of the NPP, Nana Akomea urged the ruling NDC government to accept the embattled president in order to help solve the Ivorian crisis.
“We would like to urge the government that this is a good chance for Ghana to make a difference to the Ivorian situation…it is an urgent matter and we so we would urge the government to act quickly and get the situation in Ivory Coast solved quickly” Nana Akomea said.
“This is a very good chance for us to make a difference to the Ivorian situation, we are his nearest neighbours and my understanding is that he is very keen to come to Ghana on asylum and we should quickly organize it for him”. He added.
However, Foreign Affairs Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni told Citi News that although no such request has been made, government will consider granting Laurent Gbagbo amnesty if he requests for it.
“I can tell you on authority that there has not been anything of that sort. There has been nothing like President Gbagbo has written to President Mills to request for political asylum”.
“Of course as we know President Mills and his sense of compassion and he being a unifier, I have no doubt that if President Gbagbo finds it fit to make such a request President Mills will consider it very well”.
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