<<Print>>

The Ivorian President Alasanne Ouattara has once again made a passionate appeal to all Ivorian refugees in Ghana to return home since according to him the post-election conflict in Ivory Coast is over. President Ouattara said his government has made efforts to stabilise the country and has put it back on track towards reclaiming its economic prosperity status and will require the support of all Ivorians to achieve that. He, however, expressed gratitude to his counterpart President Evans Atta-Mills and all Ghanaians for their support to his country during months of political turmoil and afterwards, while calling for more support as the country rebuilds. Speaking shortly after holding bilateral talks with president Atta-Mills at the Castle Osu, on Thursday, president Ouattara said conditions back home are conducive enough for all displaced Ivorians to return and contribute their quota in the rebuilding process. On his part, president Atta-Mills assured his visiting counterpart of Ghana�s support in rebuilding the conflict-ridden country. He, however, urged Ouattara not to renege on reconciling the people of his country to facilitate in stabilizing the situation in Ivory Coast. Meanwhile, in other to quicken the immediate expatriation of Ivorian refugees, Ghana, Ivory Coast and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) on Thursday signed an agreement for the voluntary repatriation of Ivorian refugees in Ghana. This is the second agreement that Ivory Coast has signed after an earlier one with Liberia. The signing took place moments after the two leaders held closed-door discussions on various issues concerning the two countries. The Foreign Affairs Minister of Ghana, Alhaji Mohamed Mumuni, initiated for Ghana while Ivorian Foreign Affairs Minister, Daniel Kablan Duncan, signed on behalf of his country. Mumuni explained to Citi News that the signing of the agreement would facilitate the administration and voluntary repatriation of all Ivorian refugees in Ghana. The minister also stated that most Ivorian refugees in Ghana have expressed their desire to return to their country, but are concerned about their safety should they return.