MONROVIA, LIBERIA- The Liberian Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) has apologized to the public for information provided on the number of returnees on drugs.
It can be recalled that on May 28, the Executive Director of the LRRRC, Patrick Worzie, told the MICAT Regular Press Conference that eighty percent of the returnees were drug users.
In an ELBC interview on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, the LRRRC Executive Director said:” The misinformation was provided to him by the entity’s statisticians.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Worzie said the Commission has taken serious administrative actions against the staff involved.
He, at the same time, reaffirmed LRRRC’s commitment to providing the public with accurate information surrounding the ongoing repatriation process.
At the same time, another batch of Liberian migrants, totaling seven hundred sixty-nine persons, are expected to be repatriated from Ghana this week.
Under the first phase, the Liberian Government brought back home seven hundred seventy Liberians who are currently being hosted at the CARI Regional Transit Village in Bong County.
LRRRC Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Armah Karneh, said:” The exercise is a demonstration of the Government’s commitment to ensure the safe return of its citizens.
Mr.Karneh urged the former Liberian refugees to take advantage of the repatriation program and join the rebuilding process of their country.
The LRRRC Deputy Executive Director is, at the same time, rallying Liberians to encourage their relatives residing in Ghana’s Buduburam Camp to form part of the repatriation program.
Meanwhile, about five hundred-nineteen stranded Liberians have so far registered for repatriation as of Tuesday, June 4, 2024.
ELBC Reporter in Ghana said:” The figure is part of the seven-hundred-sixty-nine stranded migrants expected back home under the second phase of the Liberian Government’s repatriation program.
The ongoing registration and other formalities are expected to be completed on Friday, June 7, before departure to Liberia on Saturday, June 8, 2024.
Meanwhile, the Inter-Agency high-power Liberian Government Delegation has intensified screening of the returnees to ensure their safety and protection.
In the meantime, the President of the Liberian Community in Ghana, Dennis Gwion, is appealing to the Liberian Government to ensure the return of hospitalized and imprisoned Liberians in Ghana.
Mr. Gwion said:” There is a need for the Government to seek the welfare of those in hospitals and prisons during the ongoing repatriation exercise.”
He noted that the abandoning of the sick and inmates in Ghana could create further trauma for the affected persons and their family members.
Gwion said due to the illness, some of the stranded Liberians are unable to board the buses chartered by the Government.
He, at the same time, called on the Liberian Government to negotiate with their Ghanaian counterpart to ensure that Liberian inmates return home and serve their jail term.
By: Sampson David
