Police in Tema say they will evacuate about a hundred Liberian refugees stranded at the port on board a cargo vessel, MV Mari. The officers hope to return the refugees who have been trying to return to their country to the Budunburam camp on the cape cost road.
The refugees allegedly paid money to be transported to Library but the captain of the vessel refused has to sail for the past 4 days because he claims it contravenes maritime regulations. He says the vessel is designed to carry general cargo and not human passengers.
Officials of a Tema based shipping agency Sifax reportedly chartered the vessel for a one-month period, to transport rice to the Liberian capital Monrovia but owners of the vessel say the contract has been breached because Sifax is transporting human beings instead of rice.
Commander of the Railway and Ports police Superintendent Victor Adetor told Adom FM that if investigations reveal any fraudulent transaction, the police administration will ensure that persons involved in the extortion of funds from the refugees are apprehended. Authorities at the Tema Ports earlier indicated that they would not allow the cargo vessel to sail with human passengers.
