For over three decades now, Liberian Refugees have resided in the Buduburam Refugee Camp in the Sisterly Republic of Ghana, triggered by the Liberian civil crisis. But the war has since been over with some Liberian citizens in that country’s refugee camp yet to return home.
Statistical data in the possession of the Liberian Government shows that Ghana has hosted about forty-thousand Liberian refugees, since 2003.
The Government of Ghana pronounced, last year, that it was under pressure by District chiefs, who are owners of the land hosting the camp, to turn the land over by November, followed by its demolition in December 2021.
But with such news, the Liberian government, in October last year, swiftly sent a high-level delegation headed by Foreign Minister, Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah and LRRRC chief Rev. Festus Logan, to Accra, Ghana, for the first consultative dialogue with the Ghanaian Government on the status of current and Former Liberian Refugees in that country.
We appreciate that a Joint Technical Committee was established to find an amicable and lasting solution to the problem.
We are optimistic that the move is expected to yield some positive results, as Ghanaian Minister of Interior, Ambrose Derry, on behalf of his government, welcomed the Liberian delegation and lauded the Liberian Government for initiating the meeting, recounting the long-standing relations and brotherly ties subsisting between the two countries and peoples.
Liberia’s Foreign Minister Dee Maxwell Kemayah conveyed special thanks and best wishes, on behalf of President George Weah and the Government and People of Liberia, to the Ghanaian President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and the Government and People of Ghana, for hosting Liberian refugees for decades coupled with the country’s role of maintaining lasting peace in Liberia.
Minister Kemayah also thanked the Government of Ghana for the extended deadline, as a result of the earlier intervention of the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A proposal was advanced by the Ghanaian delegation for a Second Consultative Dialogue to be held in Monrovia, between the Governments of Ghana and Liberia on the refugee situation, at which time the comprehensive roadmap will be developed by the Joint Technical Team, signed and published as a testament to the cordial relations and Pan African brotherhood between the two countries and peoples.
That is why we welcome the establishment of a comprehensive Road map for the repatriation of Liberian Refugees from Ghana.
Indeed, we say, there is nowhere like home, so the return of the Liberian citizens to their motherland to contribute to the country’s development is cardinal.
Words would just be inadequate to express gratitude to the LRRRC Boss, Rev. Festus Logan, who had been very instrumental in these discussions.
By: Victor Kezelee, Sr.
