The number of Ghanaian nationals seeking asylum in Ireland has increased significantly in recent years, according to official figures released yesterday.
The statistics follow weekend reports that a group of mostly Ghanaian stowaways, who were trying to board a ship bound for Ireland, were arrested in the west African county of Gambia.
Out of the 69 people arrested by Gambian police while awaiting the Russian-registered vessel, 52 were Ghanaians, 11 were Nigerians and two were Gambians.
The ship had been coming from the Senegalese capital of Dakar.
According to the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner, a total of 657 Ghanaians have applied for asylum in Ireland since 1999, almost half of whom applied last year.
The numbers of applications increased from 25 in 1999 to 106 in 2000, 148 in 2001 and 293 last year. A total of 67 Ghanaians have claimed asylum in the first two months of this year.
Nigerian nationals accounted for a third of the total of 11,634 asylum applicants last year. Ireland has no direct travel link with west Africa and the authorities believe most of the asylum- seekers have been arriving via Britain.
Under EU law, refugees are expected to seek asylum in the first Community country they arrive in.
In summer 2001 the Government signed a protocol with Nigeria to facilitate deportations of its citizens whose claims for recognition as refugees fleeing persecution had been unsuccessful.