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Liberia: Women and Children ransacked by Ghanaian Police in Refugee camp
Mar 17, 2008
by Michael Kpayili / Staff Writer

Liberian women and children seeking protection in the Buduburam Refugee Camp in Ghana are said to be raided by the Ghanaian Police Force leaving scores arrested and several others wounded. The Refugees have been protesting against improper care ranging from the lack of job security and the inability of the United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees (UNHCR) to cater to them adequately.

According to the Block Leader at the Camp, Patrick Onisulan, Police early Monday morning surrounded the protesting women and children who have engaged in a 21 day sit-in action at the foot ball field before the camp objecting the forceful integration of Liberian Refugees into the Ghanaian society. The protesting Refugees have also vowed to resist the cash amount of Five United States Dollars as repatriation assistance to each returning Refugee to Liberia.

Several conditions have been outlined by the Liberian Refugees in Ghana as precondition to their exit from Ghana. Among these conditions are the option to relocate the Refugees to third country other than Liberia and Ghana, the cash amount of One thousand United States Dollars to each Refugee and the permission to transport all of their hard earned belongings acquired during their stay in the Refugee camp.

In a related development, Liberian Refugees in Gaiglo, the Ivory Coast have been violently stopped as they attempt to protest against inhumane treatment by the UNHCR. Ivorian Police stopped and wounded scores of Liberian Refugees as they (Refugees) prepared to present a planned statement to Officials of the UNHCR.

Meanwhile, the Government of Liberia has ruled out any plan of seeking relocation of Refugees to any third country as claimed by the protesting Refugees. The Liberian Government called on Liberian Refugees in neighboring countries to return to Liberia. The Government through its information House dismissed perception by Refugees that Liberia is unsaved

The unemployment rate in Liberia stands at 85% with both qualified and unqualified citizens roaming the streets of Monrovia for employment. Repatriating over 100,000 Refugees back to Liberia without job security poses serious risk to the overall national security.

About the Author:
Michael Kpayili is a staff writer for TheLiberianTimes.com. Kpayili has written articles which have appeared on TheLiberianTimes.com since late 2005, and his hard hitting investigative journalism has earned the respect of the Liberian press community.

Michael Kpayili may be contacted at mkpayili@theliberiantimes.com.