Hundreds of Ghanaians who entered Brazil as
tourists to watch World Cup games have asked for
asylum, police in southern Brazil said Thursday.
Noerci da Silva Melo, who heads the Federal Police
office in the city of Caxias, do Sul said that over
the past week, 200 Ghanaians asked for asylum.
The Justice Ministry will decide whether to grant
their requests and in the meantime, they are
allowed to work and circulate in Brazil.
The Justice Ministry did not immediately comment.
Melo said close to 150 of the Ghanaians have left
Caxias do Sul for the states of Sao Paulo and
Santa Catarina where they have a better chance of
finding employment.
Melo said the Ghanaians said they were Muslims
who were "fleeing the violent conflicts between
different Muslim groups."
He said they all entered Brazil legally to watch their
country's team play in Natal, Fortaleza and
Brasilia. Ghana finished last in its group, losing to
the United States and Portugal and reaching a draw
with Germany.
Vanessa Perini Moojen of the Roman Catholic
Church's Migrant Support Center said the asylum-
seekers "faced life-threatening situations back
home." She would not elaborate.
"They feel they can find work and better living
conditions in Brazil," she added.
The center provided temporary shelter for the
Ghanaians at the city's seminary and helped them
prepare their asylum requests.
