FreedomNews | Chris Saah M. Poe:
The Government of Liberia has taken a step towards addressing the recent displacement of Liberians living in the former Buduburam Refugee Camp in the Gomoa District of the Republic of Ghana. Led by Cllr. Jeddi Armah, Deputy Minister for Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a high-level delegation, in collaboration with the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), has initiated plans for the voluntary repatriation of the first group of 700 affected Liberians.
The Buduburam Refugee settlement has been a home for many Liberians since the onset of the civil war in 1990. However, on February 27, 2024, the Gomoa District Traditional Council began demolishing 150 acres of land, citing illegal occupation by the Liberian refugees and prompting legal actions.
In response, President Joseph Nyumah Boakai has established an interagency working group, spearheaded by the LRRRC and involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Liberia National Police (LNP), Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), and Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MoGCSP). This collaborative effort aims to plan and facilitate the repatriation of willing Liberians currently residing in Ghana.
The delegation’s mission in Ghana encompasses a range of critical tasks. They are expected to focus on organizing all essential logistics, including securing safe passage from Ghana to Liberia via Cote d’Ivoire, to ensure the safe return of the repatriates and their belongings.
