The Ghanaian fans who sought asylum in Brazil after the World Cup have been granted a one-year stay by the Brazilian authorities.
200 Ghanaian supporters reportedly applied for asylum after Ghana’s first round exit from the World Cup, claiming they were fleeing “violent religious conflicts” in their country.
The Ghanaian Embassy in Brazil has been tasked by the Ministry of Youth and Sports to investigate the claims.
However in a recent interview, the Brazilian ambassador to Ghana, Irene Vida Gala, has confirmed to Citi News, that the Brazilian government is conducting its own independent investigation and will soon come to a conclusion.
“Each case is going to be assessed by a committee and only after the decision will any action be taken by the Brazilian government.”
She further added that, despite the request by the Ghanaian government asking them to send the asylum seekers home, there’s nothing they can do until their investigation is completed.
Meanwhile, in an interview on Asempa FM on Monday, one of the asylum seekers, disclosed that; “We didn’t tell Brazilian authorities that there was conflict in Ghana and for that they should grant us asylum.
“Each and every one of us came here with his own reason which is definitely not a conflict situation.
“We have received our papers and some of us have already started working. Some of us work in industries and others work in the construction sector,” he added.
He further revealed that “some of the supporters have even filtered into neighboring countries; Argentina and Ecuador with others making their way north to the USA.”
By: Benjamin Epton Owusu/citifmonline.com/Ghana