FOUR Ghanaians are still in the custody of security forces in Bouake, Ivory Coast, on allegation that they are mercenaries. This is because the superior officer in charge of the security forces, who should order their release is out of town. The forces are therefore, waiting for his return before the captives could be released. The move followed efforts by the Ghana mission in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, to secure the release of the Ghanaians. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, told the Times yesterday in a telephone interview that the mission had made contact with the security forces who had promised to release the four Ghanaians. "We are confident that they would be released in due course," Alhaji Mumuni told the Times. Alhaji Mumuni said the arrest of the five Ghanaians, one was released last week on health grounds, was based on misinformation to the security forces that the Ghanaians were mercenaries' aiding a side in the Ivorian political crises. The five Ghanaians, accused of allegedly being mercenaries of Ivorian embattled President Laurent Gbagbo, were last Friday picked up by forces loyal to Allassane Ouattara, the man widely believed by the international community to have won the last November presidential election in La Cote d'lviore. One of them, Johnson Agbeko, was released on health grounds while the other four, whose names were given as Atsu Agbeko, Kobina Agbeko, Awana and Abdulai are still in the grips of the security forces. They are said to be artisans who had been working there over a year but were arrested on false reports that they were engaged in mercenary activity. Tension continues to mount in La Cote d'lviore over leadership crises following claims to the presidency by both Mr Gbagbo and Ouattara triggered by dispute over election results. Source: Times