Dokument #1131064
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
The publisher of the Ghana Drum, a
monthly Ghanaian news magazine based in Gaithersburg, Maryland,
provided the following information on the above-mentioned subject
(22 Sept. 1994). The Michel Camp detention centre is not public
knowledge, but it is located at Michel Camp, a military base
situated between Tema and Accra. The number of prisoners in
detention varied over time. The prisoners in this installation were
government critics or political opponents who could be released
only at the government's discretion.
Contrary to the Ghanaian government's claim
that it has not held political prisoners since 1992, the publisher
maintained that some opponents of the government are still being
held at this installation.
The Achimota forest annex detention centre
is also not public knowledge, but it is located in the Achimota
forest between Accra and Legon, an Accra suburb. A security
check-point, at an unpaved road off the Tema Motorway extension
leading into the Achimota forest, marks the centre's location.
Armed guards man the check-point. This detention centre held the
same types of prisoners as the Michel Camp detention centre.
A journalist with the London-based New
African and former editor of the Kumasi-based daily,
Pioneer, who was detained by the Ghanaian government on 23
February 1985 and held for two days at the Gondar Barracks
detention centre in Accra, corroborated the above information (22
Sept. 1994). Regarding the detention of political prisoners in
these centres, he speculated that some people may still be held in
these prisons because the government has forgotten about them.
This response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum.
Journalist, New African,
London. 22 September 1994. Telephone interview.
Publisher, Ghana Drum,
Gaithersburg, Maryland. 22 September 1994. Telephone interview.