by TIM SLINGER

TWO OF THE SEVEN West Africans who refused to surrender to immigration authorities three months ago are now behind bars.

Ghanaians Alfred Kwasi Acheambong, 36, and Patrick Ofoni-berko, 24, were captured recently during a police operation.

Both fugitives have since been detained at HMP Dodds, St Philip.

When contacted yesterday, Chief Immigration Officer Gilbert Greaves said no charges would be brought against the two, but "we will keep them in a safe and secure environment until we can find the others and make arrangements for them to return to their homeland".

Still searching

Meanwhile, the authorities are still searching round the clock for the remaining five wanted men, who were part of an original 80-odd West Africans who arrived in Barbados in February for a cultural two-week visit, but were left stranded after their chartered Ghana Airways plane did not return for them.

They are Ghanaians Augustine Addae, 30; Francis Anyimadu, 25; Francis Asare, 43; and Nigerians John Oladayo Popoola, 36 and Francis Sydneney, 43.

Almost two months ago, a chartered flight costing the Barbados Government more than $600 000 took the stranded Africans back to Accra after several weeks of controversy surrounding the circumstances of their visit to the Caribbean.

Investigation

As a result, Prime Minister David Thompson ordered a full-scale investigation into the matter headed by Retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Charles Blades.

The saga also deepened when some of the West Africans were taken to the Barbados Defence Force's (BDF) base at Paragon as preparations were being made for a return flight.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Senator Maxine McClean, had made it clear to the seven Africans missing from the original batch that if they did not present themselves to the Immigration Department in Bridgetown, they would be deemed illegal immigrants and subject to the laws of Barbados regarding their status.

The 86-odd West Africans who were repatriated to their homelands had their status regularised before their departure.