Ending Tensions Between Ghana and Gambia

Today United Nations Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon stated that he welcomed the agreement reached by the
Gambia and Ghana to end tensions that emerged after the deaths and
disappearances of Ghanaian nationals on Gambian territory in 2005. In
a statement issued by his spokesperson, the Secretary-General
applauded the two African countries "for their commitment to settle
the differences between them in a peaceful and negotiated manner."

The Gambia and Ghana signed a Joint
Communique today in Sirte, Libya, where an African Union (AU) summit
has also been taking place. The Secretary-General said in the
statement that "he trusts that the Joint Communique will strengthen
the existing fraternal and cordial bilateral relationship between
Ghana and the Gambia."

The Secretary-General also expressed
appreciation for what he described as "the immense contribution"
of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), "which
worked preventively and in partnership with the United Nations to
resolve the problem between the two countries."

Last year the United Nations and ECOWAS
set up a joint fact-finding team to look into the deaths of the
Ghanaians.