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Liberia: Return Refugees
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The Inquirer (Monrovia)
28 March 2008
Posted to the web 28 March 2008
Patrick K. Wrokpoh
The Government of Liberia says its position on the Liberian refugees in Ghana, is that it wants the Ghanaian authority to return the almost 600 Liberian refugees who were reportedly rounded up during a protest action back to the Bundubura Refugees Camp.
The government said that the 600 Liberian refugees should be taken back to their other Liberian colleagues at the Bundubura Refugee Camp while it continues with the negotiation process with the Ghanaian authority over the repatriation of Liberian refugees from that country.
Information Minister, Lawrence Bropleh who released the government's position to the press yesterday at his ministry said at a meeting that the Liberian delegation, which is currently in Ghana and headed by Foreign Minister Olubanke King Akerele, the Liberian delegation registered its concerns over the refugee issues with to the Ghanaian authority.
"The delegation has expressed concern over the manner in which our citizens have been kept in that second location. This morning, (yesterday morning) these concerns will be expressed to the Interior Minister," he said.
According to him, although things are changing as the negotiation process continues, but the general feeling of the Ghanaian authority is that Liberia is safe and free and a democratic process is in place and as such, there is no need for Liberian refugees to remain in that country after 18 years.
He said the government is sensitive to the issue concerning the refugees and that the interest of the government is to eventually prepare to receive the refugees back home.
"But currently, we are negotiating to press forward for the Ghanaian government to place a stay order as we prepare to bring our people back home. We want the public to be assured that the situation in Ghana will be temporary and that we will work on a comprehensive vision and approach in how we can prepare our country for our citizens to come home," he added.
Responding to calls made to what the government makes of the alleged mal treatment claims by refugees to be investigated by a joint committee to be set up by both countries, Minister Bropleh said, "We need to let diplomacy work in Ghana. You have a delegation at a highest level from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ghana. That process needs to work. At the end of the day, if a determination has to be made that something else needs to happen, then it will happen."
He added: "At this point, what we are more concerned about is our citizens and we want to make sure that we chart that course. While we are defending human rights and holding the Ghanaian government responsible to international convention, we want to be sensitive as we negotiate."
Meanwhile, the Ghanaian government has also released its official position on the Liberian refugee issues.
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According to reports from Ghana published in some local dailies in that country, President John Kofuor, last Wednesday affirmed that the government of Ghana resolve to ensure that the repatriation of Liberian refugees be carried out in a way that would not strain the relationship between the two countries.
President Kufuor said they are ready to dialogue and work out a convenient timetable with the UNHRC and other stake- holders so that the exercise could be carried out without bitterness and embarrassment.
He made these statements when he met with the Liberian delegation in that country headed by Foreign Minister Olubanke King Akerele.
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