Voice of Liberia

Liberian Refugee Women Protest Peacefully against INTEGRATION IN GHANA.

 

 

On Monday, March 17, 2008 at about 4pm, hundreds of Refugee Women and Children were rounded up and arrested by Ghanaian police force armed with Tear Gas and machine guns. These women and Children are detained, their Refugee status about to be revoked. The government of Ghana threatening the deportation of these women and Children to Liberia in continuation to the already sixteen (16) majority basketballs deported on Sunday March 22^nd boarded on a military Chopper.

  

This Peaceful Protest all began on February 19, 2008 held by the Concern Refugee Women of the Budubburam Refugee Camp. They were later joined by their Children and elderly in solidarity of their mothers.

 

There reason for protest was against INTEGRATION into Ghanaian Society as the Government and the UNHCR had started some integration projects especially teaching of the local Ghanaians dialects to residents of the Camp.

 

They expressed resettlement in a third western country in order to acquire good education, job to save some money as they have been deprived as Refugees to these basic facilities by the Ghanaians for the past 17/18 years or an increase in their repatriation package from $5.00 to $ 1500.00.

 

This protest disrupted all activities on the Camp including Schools, market and other service providers’ closure; however all movement remain peaceful and orderly without any violence from the side of protestors or their close ones.

The current response by the Ghanaian authorities is observed disproportionate by majority of inhabitants and other international pressure groups.

Media coverage including TV, Newspaper or Radio of this situation is worrying skewed towards the Ghanaian perspective and the plight of Liberians is being misconstrued and misrepresented especially local radios.

 

Besides, sentiment and other relationship between the Ghanaians and Liberians have continued to grow poor as local people interpret and react otherwise peaceful.

 

The civil War in Liberia has ended at least and thousands have been repatriated/return to their homeland despite the loss of their homes and also to help rebuild their nation.

However, this is not a viable option at this time for all displaced Liberians as thousands have struggle to create lives elsewhere and do not have means to start all over in a still fragile country with $5.00 among other thousand still fighting to access other basic support for their return.

 

A most recent progress report on the UN Mission in Liberia (UNIMIL) by the Secretary General (August 2007) highlights the increased levels of Criminality, Gender Violence and general instability in the country.

 

Liberia also faces some enormous post conflict reconstruction challenges; according to the Ministry of Health, there are only one hundred & thirty (130) Doctors currently practicing in Liberia. Fifty one (51) of who are Liberian nationals. Less than half of all birth is delivered by a trained professional and the patient nurse ratio is 0.16 per 1000.

 

Liberia was also ranked as the ninth most fragile country in the World in a survey of states fragility compiled by the Brookings Institute in Washington DC released in February 2005.

 

The residents of Budubburam have created their own Liberia in Ghana, building their own housing, schools and even recreational centers including Churches without UNHCR support and Ghana Refugee Board.

Majority have also given birth to new generation of Liberians and clinging to their identity as Liberians while struggling for themselves and their families.

 

Hope for Resettlement in a 3^rd Western country has always remained strong on Camp among many residents.

 

The reality is that the “WEST” has essentially closed its doors to this community and new compromises need to be reached for their fate while we understand the concerns of Ghanaian Government regarding the for Public order in their country, Refugees are greatly concern about the safeguarding of their basic rights in Ghana as the UNHCR and International Pressure groups have been manipulated/restricted to access to the Camp.

 

In recent efforts to bring to an end the ongoing protest, a Liberian Government sent a Delegation compromising the Foreign Minister, Interior Minister among others who meet the president, UNHCR and the detention centers for negotiations.

 

In a final message addressed to the Budubburam residents by the visiting delegation from Liberia, they encourage Liberians to go home to help in the reconstruction process. The delegation promised to also come back in one month with a final message from the President Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on the Government position for accepting and finding houses for the returnees.

 

During this meeting with the Liberian delegation, the following petition were put forward as their Plights of Liberian Refugees in Ghana especially Budubburam. Many persons spoke but the below were some important points stressed by Speakers on behalf of both the Women and the entire Budubburam Refugee community.

 

 

Petition

• That the government of Ghana allows a delegate from International Press groups, Civil Society Organizations including ICRC to have access to the detained women and Children to assess their situation and insure that their rights are being respected.
• That the Government of Ghana suspend all further actions regarding revocation of Refugee status and deportation until negotiation established be implemented.
• That the UNHCR take on much more active role as this is their mandate in safeguarding and defending the rights of Refugees in Ghana immediately.
• That the UNHCR institute a plan for disengagement of their protection services on the settlement and transition to new status for Liberians in Ghana and as well sign a new term of reference on the protection of Liberian Refugees in Ghana.
• That any further decision regarding the status of Liberian Refugees in Ghana be decided jointly between all involved parties.

 

Further plight by Liberian Refugees is to increased International attention through thorough and objective Journalistic coverage in order to keep Government authorities, international groups and donors honest and accountable for their actions

 

The Pan African Center for Peace has been very active and involve in helping to resolve the crisis. We were actively involve in appealing to the women to leave the protest ground, visited Ghanaian Radio(Asempa FM) and Television (Metro TV) stations to carry on talk show in educating People on the crisis.

 

We also continue our Bi-Weekly Community Peace Education newsletter free for the Budubburam Camp and other International Volunteers including pressure groups.

 

We are currently planning to host a Women Empowerment Seminar for inhabitants of the Budubburam Camp. The objectives of this Seminar will be educating participants on basic human rights, violation, abuses and reconciliation among other topics.

 

However, the work of our Organization is underpinned by the Contribution of Volunteers whom provide their services through Volunteering, Networking and financial support of the sustainability of the Program. We are embarking on series of Peace Program and is welcoming Volunteers all year round to work in Ghana or Liberia respectively.

 

This Report is compiled by:

Kadio Ali

Pan African Center for Peace & Conflict Resolution

Tel: +233 242 04 07 68

Tel: +231 654 3735

Email: pcrforliberia@yahoo.com