Ghana and Gambia have held new talks on efforts to safe justice for Ghanaian migrants killed in 2005 underneath the regime of former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh.
Minister of Overseas Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa introduced in a Fb submit on Sunday, Might 17, 2026, that he held bilateral talks with Gambia’s Minister of Overseas Affairs Serin Modu Nye.
Ablakwa stated discussions ranged from cooperation in schooling, well being, defence, and help for the Gambia College of Overseas Coverage.
He stated the problem of accountability for the killing of greater than 50 West African migrants, most of them Ghanaians, additionally got here up throughout the talks.
The migrants have been arrested by Gambian safety personnel on July 22, 2005, after their boat landed within the nation whereas crusing towards Europe.
The immigrants have been suspected of involvement in an tried coup towards Jammeh’s authorities.
Over the following few days, practically all of the migrants, together with some 44 Ghanaians, 9 Nigerians, two Togolese nationals, and nationals of Ivory Coast and Senegal, have been both killed in Gambia or taken throughout the border to Senegal, the place they have been shot lifeless and dumped in a properly.
Former members of Jammeh’s militia generally known as the “Junglers” later testified earlier than the Fact, Reconciliation and Reparations Fee that the killings have been carried out on the orders of the previous president.
One witness, Omar Jallow, instructed the committee that the operation’s leaders instructed the group that Jammeh had ordered the execution of all migrants.
The findings offered to the fee described the killing as a state-sponsored operation and subsequent try and cowl up the incident involving high-ranking Gambian intelligence, navy and police officers.
Ghana tried to research the homicide in 2005 and 2006, however the Gambian authorities on the time reportedly blocked the investigation.
A 2009 joint UN-ECOWAS report subsequently attributed the killings to rogue safety officers appearing independently, however subsequent testimony and investigations have challenged that conclusion.
On 25 November 2021, the Fee submitted its last report back to Gambia’s President Adama Barrow.
The report accommodates 427 findings and 218 suggestions, naming a number of folks accused of abuse throughout the Jammeh period.
The fee additionally concluded that there was a scientific try and cowl up the killing.
Primarily based on the outcomes of this investigation, on Might 25, 2022, the Gambian authorities accepted a suggestion to pay roughly $600,000 in compensation to the victims and their households by the governments of every nation.
Victims’ households and survivors’ organizations have since complained that they haven’t obtained compensation or obtained any formal communication from Ghanaian authorities concerning the method.
Human rights teams additionally say the quantity accredited is inadequate given the dimensions of the killings.
Mr. Ablakwa additionally acknowledged the function performed by the Ghanaian navy in stabilizing The Gambia following the political transition that ended 22 years of Jammeh’s rule.
In line with the Overseas Minister, Mr Njie expressed his gratitude to Ghana and its navy personnel for supporting democracy in The Gambia following the handover of energy to President Barrow.
