Voice of Liberia
Fighting for Justice for all Liberians
Refugee Watch
After Ultimatum and failed Diplomacy, the People’s Response to the Cries of Liberian Refugees
April 7, 2008
Contact: 002316-626209
The Press, ladies and gentlemen, greetings;
Since the exodus of refugees to Ghana and other sisterly republics due to senseless civil conflicts imposed upon the Liberian people in the early nineties, the last few weeks have proven to be the most difficult and pathetic in the history of exiled Liberians, especially those residing on camp Buduburam.
After many years of unwarranted police activities on this refugee camp, vulnerable refugee women decided to peacefully gather in quiet protest against unfavorable domestic realities that created a desire to be resettled in third countries of choice; or be given reasonable financial package that would enable them return to Liberia, a country that, up till now, has not been able to develop the minimal economic and physical infrastructure to accommodate its returnees.
Though the peaceful exercise that was being carried out within the limits of the camp conformed to international best practice consistent with conventional norms and standards, the government of the Republic of Ghana was about to unleash a calculated brutality on a community that did nothing to violate Ghanaian laws.
Subsequently, the multifaceted strength of the Ghanaian security apparatus was unleashed; hundreds of refugees were arbitrarily arrested and transported to unknown locations, homes were vandalized whilst remnants of refugees went helter-skelter in villages and uninhabited places. This abominable sad-song does not include babies that were trampled to death, and young girls raped by merciless security forces, leaving behind a list of missing children whose whereabouts still elude their parents, including relatives and friends.
As though such self-style brutality was not enough, many other vulnerable Liberians were forcefully repatriated later on against their will; leaving personal valuables and family members languishing in nearby Ghanaian villages without protection. Up till now, scores of women continue to be held in Ghanaian detentions centers where there are claims of torture and unhygienic practices.
Sadly, the Ghanaian government, in an attempt to convince the international community of its brutal crackdown, has provided many explanations. Recently, the Ghanaian Interior Minister, Hon. Kwamena Bartels, addressing a ‘weekly ministerial Meet the Press held at the Ghana Ministry of Information’ dangerously speculated:
“The seemingly innocent demonstration embarked upon by the women and children at the refugees’ camp was part of a wider plot by a group of people (some being Ghanaians and Liberians) to cause mayhem in the settlement and as well threaten the country’s security. “Government is aware of a number of ex-combatants at the settlement and will not sit down unconcerned for our national security to be jeopardised…” He went on, ‘’based on an agreement with the Liberian delegation to Ghana last week, a tripartite committee comprising Ghana, Liberia, and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees had been established to work out the practical modalities for their repatriation”.
Unfortunately, the above calculated pronouncement is the third subterfuge the xenophobic Ghanaian isolationist has offered in an attempt to violently catapult Liberians from Ghana using unconventional techniques. Previously, he announced that refugees were violating the “Public Order Act of Ghana” coupled with Public nuisance; at another time, the peaceful assemblage of protesting refugees constituted “Illegal immigrants”; and now, the Hon. Bartels has declared to the world that his “Government is aware of a number of ex-combatants at the settlement and will not sit down unconcerned for our national security to be jeopardised…”
Contrary to Hon.Bartels life-threatening pronouncements, we are of the conviction that the ongoing unwarranted actions meted out against our vulnerable citizens in Ghana is a part of a wider plot to subject this vulnerable refugee community to unacceptable inhumane treatments for political gains, outside international humanitarian practices.
Surprisingly back home, the government of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf pretends not to be aware of the incessant hardship and intolerable living condition of Liberians in Ghana, and has developed a diplomatically-lukewarm attitude to the ongoing disaster. Little wonder our government, without official investigation, hastened to condemn our victimized brothers and sisters whilst the Ghanaian human rights community was condemning their own government’s brutal actions.
We are unequivocally baffled by the unpatriotic and insensitive policy of our government towards our suffering community abroad. In our minds, these deliberate political shortcomings have left our people as pawn in a foreign land at the increasing disadvantage of a country that soon forgot the role of Liberia in the independence and economic stability of Ghana.
Footprints of Liberia’s gesture and hospitality are not hard to find on the seashore of Ghana’s voyage to sovereignty; in those days, Liberia was an active player in ensuring the independence of what is now a flourishing West African country. We were not only aiding that independence fight along political horizons, previous Liberian governments were investing tax payers’ money to help Ghana ascend to unimaginable political frequencies.
To these things, those who remember Ghana’s economic crisis of the 1970s will appreciate Liberia’s role in providing comfortable habitation for economic refugees from Ghana; our hospitableness knew no bounds as Ghanaians were permitted to bear Liberian passports and National Identification cards. The 1950s and 70s are replete with these undisputable facts of history.
Notwithstanding, we do not employ a reflection of these previous gestures to defend any damage our brothers and sisters may have done whilst enjoying Ghanaian hospitality. Indeed, our African brothers dealt with our countrymen rather kindly during our senseless civil wars, and we admit this and pay our obeisance; nevertheless, the ongoing disaster against Liberians in Ghana is yet to be justified in light of available details. Much more so, that Ghana is already sidestepping basic international treaties to violate the rights of Liberians whilst tens of thousands of Ghanaians continue to live here without harassment is unacceptable.
The foregoing was the essence of the 48 Hours ultimatum recently given the government of Ghana to release Liberian refugees and restore their fundamental rights consistent with the 1951 UN convention. Now that that ultimatum has lapsed, though we allotted additional time to allow for the holding of the already-failed bilateral talks between our governments, various pro democracy organizations, student groups, political institutions, and civil society organizations hereby collaborate to declare the following actions:
(a) That all Liberians in Ghanaian custody based on the recent refugee crackdown are immediately released without precondition, or such actions would be reciprocated against Ghanaians in Liberia.
(b) That there is an immediate withdrawal of armed Ghanaian security personnel in the premises of the Buduburam Refugee Camp, leaving only a reasonable presence necessary for their protection.
(c) That there is an immediate halt to any form of forceful repatriation, unless those processes approved by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as being a voluntary exercise.
(d) That the declaration of the Ghanaian government, which constitutes a security risk to all Liberians in Ghana, be immediately retracted since they are not constructed upon proven details; and that the government of Ghana recommits itself to the protection of these vulnerable groupings.
(e) That, if Ghanaians so desire to deport Liberian refugees, the government of Ghana provides vessels to immediately transports the more than 100,000 Ghanaians living in Liberia. We believe this reciprocal action will create the necessary vacancy that will enable our returning brothers and sisters to be reintegrated back home.
(f) That, should this conflict lingers, the Ghanaian government recalls all its personnel serving in the United Nations Mission in Liberia.
Finally, we hope the ordinary Ghanaian community will understand that our actions are not targeted to ensure any enmity against them, but to send a clear signal that the continuous disaster confronting Liberians in Ghana is unacceptable. Consequently, we will pursue every means possible, including methods not discussed here to seek the good health and survival of our people in Ghana.
Thank you.
Signed: _________________
Mulbah K. Morlu, Jr.
National Chairman
Forum for the Establishment of a War Crimes Court in Liberia
________________________
M. Boakai Jaleiba, Jr.
Secretary General, Liberia Action Party’s Youth Wing
Daniel Fassah
Chairman, Coalition of Political Party Youth of Liberia
_________________________
Alfred Togbah
_________________________
Charles H. V. Allen
Consortium of Youth and Student Leaders of Liberia
________________________
Mayamu Konneh
________________________
Vallai M. Dorley
National Chairman, Progressive Students Alliance Leading Movement, United Methodist University
_________________________
Amos Mitchell
Chairman, Liberian Scholars Association of Liberia
__________________________
Marchee E. Nyah
Board Chairman, Youth Organized for the Promotion of Intellectual Activities, Inc.
_________________________
Noah Doyah
Chairman, Coalition for the Sustainability and Accountability of Democracy
________________________
Cyrus Sambola
Chairman, National Youth Movement for Transparent Democracy
_________________________
Josephine Gibson
Chairlady, Women of Paynesville in Peace building Advocacy
________________________
Sylvester S. Gamete
Chairman, Liberian Anti-corruption Drive
Mrs. Dorothy S. Yamento
Chairlady, Association of Liberians against corruption
______________________
Alexander S. Flomoyan
Secretary General, Vision Youth-Lead, Int’l
_______________________
James K. Forkpakollie
Chairman, Association of Evangelical Christians against Bad Governance (AECABG)
_______________________
Bamidele Shomlin
Chairman, Union of Grassroots Organizations of Liberia
_______________________
James Kolleh
________________________
Gormah Kolleh
Chairlady, Liberia’s Indigenous United for Development
_______________________
Urias S. Goll
Chairman, Chocolate City Youth Association
