US Embassy withdraws Peace Corps from Ghana's Upper West Region

Accra, Ghana (PANA) - The United States Embassy in Ghana has withdrawn all Peace Corps Volunteers from Upper West Region and warned its citizens to exercise caution while travelling in the area.

This follows an incident in the region when robbers attacked Peace Corps at the regional capital, Wa, last weekend, leading to the death of one of the attackers.

An Accra-based FM radio station, Joy FM, quoted an unclassified email from the Embassy as saying, “In order to ensure the safety and well-being of all Peace Corps Volunteers, they have been removed from the Upper West Region until further notice.

“All U.S. citizens in the Upper West Region should exercise caution and defer unnecessary travel in or to the area.”

Following the incident, the Peace Corps Volunteers “voluntarily reported" the incident to the local authorities on Saturday morning and they were released after an interview session with the police.

The story said they have not been charged with any crime and the matter is currently under investigation by the police.
-0- PANA MA/SEG 20July2012