Liberian refugees in Ghana voluntarily return home

Tema, Oct 17, GNA - Some 4,300 Liberian refugees in Ghana have returned home with their personal effects since the beginning of the voluntary repatriation operation in October 2004. About 36,890 of the refugees are still in the country, Madam Needa Jehu-Hoyah, Public Information Officer of the Ghana Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told newsmen at the Tema Harbour on Monday when 160 of the refugees were returning home on board the MV Brenda Corlett.

The repatriation of the refugees, 97 from Ghana and 63 picked from the Oru Camp in Lagos, was jointly organised by the UNHCR in collaboration with the governments of Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia and the International Organisation for Migration (IMO).

In Nigeria, Madam Jehu-Hoyah said 1,656 of the refugees have been repatriated since October 2004 and still hosts 5,223.

The Information Officer said each convoy of arrivals in Liberia is received at a transit centre and given assistance package that include a four-month food ration, household items and basic tools to support their integration.

"All of these measures are aimed at providing Liberian refugees with the opportunity to rebuild their lives back home in a sustainable manner".

Mr Aboagye Tandoh, Assistant Field Safety Advisor, who has been accompanying the refugees in all the sea voyages, said on arrival they are well briefed before being integrated into the society. Some of the refugees expressed their gratitude to officials of the UNHCR for sponsoring them to acquire skills.

One of the refugees, Ms Susan Thomas, said she came unskilled "but I am going home as a qualified hairdresser and I wish to improve upon it" and another, Mr Francis Sparkie, said he is now an Information Technology Assistant as well as a professional driver.