Liberian refugees in Ghana reject repatriation package

Liberian refugees in Ghana have rejected the repatriation package that has been offered to them to return home, and have since embarked on a sit-down strike.

The refugees are being given one hundred US dollars each to return home, but they are asking for more, some of them say the amount is too meagre and they want about US $1000 or more to be able to resettle back in Liberia.

There are currently about 40,000 Liberian refugees in Ghana. The Liberians moved to Ghana when a civil war led by Charles Taylor broke out in their country. When peace returned to the country after over a decade of the war, Charles Taylor who won presidential elections and became president was forced to step down and had been arrested. He is currently standing trial in The Hague for war crimes.

The Liberian refugees also say they are not willing to be re-integrated into the Ghanaian society.

Meanwhile, the deadline for the repatriation has been set for June 30, 2008.

Speaking to Joy News, Mr. Abdulai Bawumia, Secretary to the Ghana Refugee Board said, initially the refugees were receiving five US dollars for transportation to their hometowns when they arrived in Monrovia. But after discussing the matter with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the amount was increased to US$100.

He also denied that the Board has any intention to integrate the refugees in Ghana.

According to Mr. Bawumiah the demand of the refugees for US $1000 cannot be met by the Board, because that would require an amount of US$40m which the Board cannot afford.