Ghana: More news on the Liberian refugee situation from the Budumburam Refugee Camp
By Shout-Africa.com Correspondent from Accra, Ghana – Accroding to reliable source closed to shout-africa.com , drama unfolded at a Cape Coast Circuit Court on Tuesday when relatives of 47 refugees from the Budumburam Refugee Camp who were arrested on Sunday started weeping in the courtroom immediately the presiding judge, Madam Florence Otoo, remanded them into prison custody to re-appear on March 1, 2011. The 47 refugees pleaded not guilty to the charge of causing riot and conspiracy.
The arrested Liberian refugees at Buduburam
Prosecution said the police were informed about the situation and quickly moved in to ensure peace and order. Prosecution further said although there was a resolution from government, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and the camp authorities to run the affairs of the camp until a date was fixed for the election of a new leader, the group refused to obey such an order and went ahead to announce to the refugees that a new leader would be installed on Sunday.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Sarfo Kani said on Sunday February 13, 2011 some refugees converged on the Refugees Baptist Church at Zone 10 Area 11 to inaugurate the new executives to manage the affairs of the camp but was opposed by another faction.
When the police were informed about the intended inauguration, the refugees vented their spleen on the police leading to about five people dying and several others injured.
It would be recalled that some newspapers on Monday carried stories on the mayhem at Gomoa Budumburam in the Central region where confusion broke out between rival factions at the refugees’ camp resulting in the death of a 27-year-old female. Many Ghanaian has called the actions of the Ghana Police Service as irresponsible and they have been cited for many irresponsible acts that have resulted in the death of Ghanaians and the Liberian issues
should no way be seen as a way of Ghana treating Liberia bad .During a radio talk show on leading local radio station monitored by Shout-Africa.com correspondent in Accra the PRO, of the Ghana Refugee Board, UNHCR PRO, and NADOM Representation were ‘cut pants down’ for the activities on the Liberian Refugee Settlement and said there as measures put in place to organize a fitting leadership election for the Liberian Refugee soon. Revealing that
a committee has been setup made-up of key stakeholders of the refugee and government representatives .”We hope to see things changes very soon”, he said.
One of the injured, a 13-year-old girl, who was returning from church, was hit by a stray bullet while an old woman was hit in the face with a stone following a confrontation between some refugees and the police officers who were detailed to the place to ensure peace and order.
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