Liberian Refugees Deny Reports

Budumburam Refugee Camp authorities have denied reports that most of the refugees are armed and may be involved in some of the recent armed robberies in the country.

The head of the Liberian Welfare Council, Joseph Myers, has however, asked the government to screen residents of the Camp and issue identity cards.

This is because thousands of Liberian refugees are flooding to the Camp, though that country's civil war ended some years ago. Ten thousand refugees have so far returned to the Camp this year through unapproved routes, Myers said.

Most of the refugees coming are generally young people. Myers observed that most of these refugees are trying to extend their rivalry from the Liberian civil war into Ghana hence the increasing civil unrest and robbery in the area.

"We as welfare officers cannot recognise some of this people, who claim we represent", he said. Myers also asked the government and the Ghana Refugee Board to come out with guidelines to streamline the activities of refugees at the Camp. Two days after the incident, Liberians resident in Kumasi condemned attacks on and reminded their colleagues in the country to respect and abide by the laws of their host.

The refugees vandalised the offices, destroyed and looted property valued at millions of cedis. Some were injured.

A statement signed by spokespersons for the refugees in Kumasi, Amos Gibson and Marie Richards, called on the authorities to deal ruthlessly with those involved in the act.

They expressed the hope that the incident would not mar relations between the two countries and Liberian refugees in in Ghana.

While Liberians callers to Accra radio phone-in programmes criticised the police for the action of the refugees, Liberians in Kumasi commended the Central regional police for the professional manner they handled the situation.

Liberian refugees at the camp attacked the offices on March 24th and freed a number of suspects being held in police cells. The refugees claim they attacked because the police refused to hand over to them a Ghanaian who allegedly stabbed a Liberian at the camp.