Two Ghanaians have been executed in Libya for allegedly killing a citizen of that country. The Ghanaians, together with another compatriot and a Nigerian have been on death row since 2002, after being convicted of murder under Libyan Sharia law. Attempts to secure their release through the intervention of President John Agyekum Kufuor were not successful, as the Lioxan authorities stuck to their guns that the convicts must face capital punishment. Deputy Minister of Information and National Orientation, Frank Agyekum said government did enough to secure the release of the executed Ghanaians. According to him, President Kufuor's intervention in 2002 led to a little reprieve for the victims with their execution being delayed for six years. Speaking on Citi FM, an Accra based radio station last Friday, Mr. Agyekum said the Libyans indicated that under Sharia law, it is only the relatives of the dead who can pardon the killers and therefore the President's request could not be granted. He added that even if a traditional treaty had existed between the governments of Ghana and Libya, it would have been difficult to secure tile victims’ release because of Sharia law. DAILY GUIDE has learnt that the two Ghanaians, the Nigerian and another Ghanaian called Blankson were sentenced to death in 1998 for killing a Libyan, and were expected to be executed in 2002. Mr. Agyekum said after President Kufuor requested for clemency from Libyan leader Muamar Gaddafi, the execution was delayed until recently when the Ghana Mission got information of the reactivation of the death sentence which the Libyan authorities carried out last week. Sensing danger that the other Ghanaian, known as Blankson may be executed as well, Mr Agyekum said the government last Friday morning wrote to the Libyan Ambassador to Ghana requesting that the life of the third Ghanaian be spared in the name of African unity. On whether there are a lot more Ghanaians in Libyan prisons awaiting execution, Mr. Agyekum reiterated that he was not aware of such reports. I am aware that there is one person who was convicted along with these two. There may still be others but as at the moment, I do not know whether there are a lot more Ghanaians convicted," he said. He re-emphasized that the Ghana Mission in Libya and the government have been doing a lot in respect of the well-being of Ghanaians in the Arab country. "In the case of this Libyan matter, the Ghana Mission has done well, enough," he added. Meanwhile DAILY GUIDE has also learnt that relatives of the executed Ghanaians are demanding their bodies for proper burial. Mr. Agyekum said the government would look at the possibility of bringing the bodies home, adding that it has taken the issue very seriously. "Government has informed the Libyan Ambassador to Ghana about the possibility of the Libyan authorities releasing the bodies of the two Ghanaians for onward transfer to their families here," he added. Source: Daily Guide