David Abagna, other Ghanaians flee Sudan to escape war

Ghanaian players plying their trade in Sudan have begun fleeing from the North African country following weeks of sustained fighting between rival factions in the country. David Abagna and Ibrahim Imoro who ply their trade with giants Al Hilal Omdurman have left the country.

Another of Ghana’s players is Fatawu Sulemana who together with his teammates at Al Merreikh has been rescued to Egypt by their club. The players will then be sent to their respective countries as the tension in Sudan continues to rise.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong had earlier confirmed that all Ghanaian students in Sudan had been accounted for. He said all the footballers too were accounted for and were all safe.

“We have so far accounted for all the Ghanaian students. They are 73; none of them has been harmed, and we have all of them safe in a place. The next batch of Ghanaians is three footballers in Sudan. We have also accounted for them and have put all of them together. The plan is to evacuate them to the nearest country which is Ethiopia,” Dr Ampratwum-Sarpong.

Ghana’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Ministry made an update to its earlier statement announcing that 82 Ghanaians have been evacuated.

A statement on Wednesday said, “The Ministry, in collaboration with its Missions in Cairo, Addis Ababa, the Honorary Consul in Khartoum and student leaders have so far successfully evacuated two batches of 50 and 27 identified Ghanaian nationals to safety in Gedaref, Sudan. They will be transported tomorrow to the Ethiopian border town of Metema where they will be received by Ghana Embassy officials, processed for Ethiopian entry visas and thereof repatriated home. They comprise 34 females and 43 males.

“In addition, three (3) Ghanaian footballers and two (2) others working for an Australian Mining Company are being evacuated through the Egyptian border post of Wadi Halfa, north of Sudan. This brings to a total of 82 Ghanaian nationals who have been evacuated to safety.