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Liberian Refugees in Ghana Confused Over Another Verification Process
By Joseph N.N. Swen,Buduburam/Ghana
Hundreds, if not thousands, of Liberian refugees living in the Liberian Refugee Camp at Buduburam in Ghana are confused over another verification process undertaken both by the UN refugee agency, UNHCR and the Government of the Republic of Ghana.
Since the issuing of UNHCR identification cards in October 2003, Liberian Refugees do continue to undergo series of verification exercises by the UNHCR and the Ghana Government without any concrete action taken to mitigate their plight. This situation seems to put the refugees in a state of dilemma.
The ongoing exercise, this time with a different nomenclature dubbed “Liberian Refugees Profiling Exercise”, began on the May 24, 2010. Although indicated to have ended on the 18 of June, 2010, the exercise is still in process.
Notices placed on the Settlement’s Information Board by the UNHCR-Ghana, do state, “this is a profiling exercise to ascertain your profile for a better identification of your protection needs and the application of the most suitable durable solution”. The notices also state that the Profiling Exercise is a protection tool. It is necessary because it will definitely give refugees the chance to participate in the durable solution offered by the UNHCR and Ghana Government. And the failure of any registered Liberian refugee to partake, may limit his/her opportunities to benefit from UNHCR and the Ghana Government’s durable solution options.
Notwithstanding, the UNHCR and Ghana Government’s durable solutions are yet to be spelt out by the notices on the Board.
Thousands of refugees’ names enlisted have been pasted on the Information Board with specific scheduled dates to meet personnel (Interviewers) who comprised of the staff of the UNHCR, Ghana Refugee Board, Ghana Immigration Service and Settlement Management.
Questions being asked which relatively seem not to be different from previous verification exercises held in 2007 and 2009 respectively are as follows:
- Do you want to return to Liberia? If Yes when; If No Why?
- Do you want to be locally integrated? If Yes or No Why?
Although the refugees have repeatedly said in previous exercises that they don’t fancy repatriation to Liberia at this time due to the fact that many lost homes and relatives to call home, the same questions continue to be asked every time
The continuous issue of Verification exercise continues to yield no fruitful result to the expectation of the interviewees (Liberian Refugees).Besides many Liberian refugees think such exercise raises eye-brows and calls for serious concerns among them.
Some state that if the UNHCR and its implementing partners are interested in information about Refugees, they (UNHCR/Partners) should make reference to their database, since every information is computerized.
In another development, the $900,000 multi-purposed buildings project funded by the UNHCR-Ghana at the Buduburam Refugee Settlement, has been completed and turned over to the Ghana Government to be used as Gomoa District Offices of Ghana Police Service and Ghana National Fire Service as well as dwelling Apartments of Ghanaian Personnel who are and would be assigned at the Settlement, in addition to a Fire Service well equipped with 4×4 pick-up and another 4×4 Pick up for the patron unit of the Gomoa District Police Force.
These projects are among numerous building projects and other facilities donated by the UNHCR-Ghana that the local Community continues to benefit from due to the stay of the Liberian Refugees who fled into Ghana because of the brutal rebel incursion and economic hardships since 1990 to present, but have little to show as Refugees in terms of Education, Medicare, and other Socio-Economic opportunities/benefits.
Editor @ July 5, 2010