Some Ivorian refugees at the Ampain Camp have deserted the place following the arrest of some suspected ex-combatants at the weekend in a special operation carried out by the national security there. Although Chairman of the Ghana Refugee Board Kenneth Dzirasah declined to give details of the number of people arrested, Joy News sources say at least 40 people were picked in the swoop and are being held in custody Mr Dzirasah however tells Joy News the exercise was informed by intelligence gathered over the last few weeks. He also said the swoop was in the interest of the refugees. Their arrest comes days after a UN security report indicted Ghana of harbouring mercenaries allegedly plotting to overthrow the Ivorian government. Meanwhile, the Government of Ghana has denied knowledge of any such activity, and has also protested over the “unusual and flawed” manner the report was made public. But Mr Kenneth Dzirasah said those arrested are believed to be ex-combatants who escaped from the Eagle Camp after a botched attempt to apprehend them. That camp has since been closed down. He suspected that those ex-combatants have infiltrated other refugee camps in the country. “The exercise was done to restore the civil character of the camp by trying to identify those we suspect are ex-combatants and are hiding in the camp,” he said. He noted that: “Coordinators on the ground have given them (refugees) an assurance that this is an exercise done in their own interest — they are not the target group.” Joy FM’s Western Regional correspondent Kweku Owusu Peprah reports that the refugees are currently living in a state of discomfort and uncertainty. He was told that the security agency arrested some people they believe were innocent and have not been involved in any nefarious activity. They therefore demanded the release of those people. The refugees, mainly supporters of former Ivoirian President Laurent Gbagbo, suspected that the exercise was conducted under the influence of the Ivorien government. The Government of Ghana was therefore called upon to resist the pressure being mounted by the Alassane Ouattara’s government; a government they claimed is currently feeling insecure. Kweku Owusu Peprah described life at the camp as “not nice”, and explained that the food and water condition at the Ampain camp is deplorable.