Reports coming out of Ghana this morning speaks of at least 5 Liberians reportedly been shot dead by Ghanaian police at the Buduburan Refugee Camp outside Accra during a riot over leadership.
According to report still coming in, the incident occurred Sunday at a Church when a group of Liberian refugees attempted installing a new leadership despite call from the refugee board to halt the process.
Reports say there has been opposition against the current leadership at the Buduburan Camp headed by Varney Sambola. Mr. Sambola has been accused of tribalism and being in cohort with both the UNHCR and the Ghanaian authorities to relegate the interest of the Liberian refugees.
According to one eyewitness, the police surrounded the hall where the ceremony was set to take place and arrested two, including the leader who was about to be sworn in.
“As the police drove off with the two, some residents pelted the convoy and the police responded with gun shots and tear gas,” the eyewitness said.
Police in Ghana have arrested a Liberian, Tyrone Marshall, said to be ringleader of the campaign to replace the current leadership on the camp. Other sources said the police are moving from house to house rounding up Liberians.
A resident of the camp told journalist by phone that reinforcement of the Ghanaian police in their hundreds has surrendered the refugee camp to the total amazement of the camp dwellers!
Another said that police are rounding up every male refugee as night falls going from door to door asking every occupants to come outside with their identification cards and as the result of that every male Liberian refugees has taken to their heels to safety in the surrounding villages within the Gomoa district and parts of Accra!
while we do not question the Ghanaian authorities right to maintain law and order in their country,they also have a duty to protect every one that resides within their borders. Did they really have to to use live bullets against unarmed people?
The Buduburam Refugee Camp has been home to refugees who fled the civil war in Liberia more than two decades ago. The camp currently hosts 15,000 to 18,000 refugees from Liberia and Sierra Leone as well as nationals from other West African countries, many of whom have settled into what has now become a tow
As this ugly situation unfolds in Ghana We as Liberian must stand fast and hold on to our dignity as we ask for an answer to the killing of our fellow Liberian. I think we deserved an answer to this unscrupulous act. We are hoping that the international community including ECOWAS Will look into this matter swiftly. Before things get off hand. BECAUSE SUCH THING WILL NOT AND MUST NOT GO UNANSWERED!
THIS IS ALL POLITICS.. I PRAY FOR A NEW WORLD
All I can say is that this issue needs more global press , as many here in the united states are unaware of it , that being said those of us who are are not standing by,acts like this need global press and lots of preasure to bring those responable to justice . (if such a thing is even posabe in todays world)
Ghanians should that one good turn deserves another as there are more Ghanians living in Liberia than Liberians in Ghana
Hi I hit what the ghanaian police did to our people right now it is hiting my soul since it happen when every I see the photo I want to fight the ghanaian police but I can not do any thing right now because they are the peace maker for ghana and have law but they when against the law. Where in this world that arm is taken among refugees to fight them like you are fighting war in iraq it is not good at all so the interanation society should advice ghana of there bad act.
Please I am kindly asking United Nation, they should help us move from ghana we are very much tired with this so call country called ghana they are crazy and bad people. If some body does something than you can take them to jail or cell but these men in the photo did not do any thing at that time why they came with arm and arressted them even shout five good person on the refugee camp they was shooting the gun no body faught them back every body was runing to their various house because they are police but they started entering people houses and broke the doors and take the men in there and put them under gun point. If I was a world learder right now I was going to deal with ghana drastically because it is against the rules of human rights. Why is it that they give ghana peaceful nation they are very much bad and selfish humans beings.
I am 18 years of age I was attending J.T.Addo Memorial Basic School but I completed the JHS 3 class there now I am waiting for my result to come to I can update my schooling or contineous my schooling.
I live on the Liberian Refugee Camp Zone 7 165.Gooday and hope to get Good respond from what I have wrote.
I am Rufus Cole normally knew as Scholar in my school.
I want to aknowledge the public what the ghanaian did to our people they will get their reward the time has not yet arrival but God will speak on behalf of us we the liberian refugee in ghana.
Goodday peace always be with the Liberian.
I also want to inform must of the young liberian who stay out late the camp will soon be in a totaly disgrace again the police are coming to take the camp in their hand so if you are out late by 12.00 in the morning they will take you but I do not know the exact time but they will come so you should be in bed soon by the time they come of because they are coming to take the armrobbers the ghanaian and nigerians on this camp so if you liberians are among they will take you and United Nation will not come.
They inform our president she said yes they should do it because liberian refugees are not armrobber they are armless people so they should do it. I am informing my good people bye.
I am a Student at the University of Iowa.
I once lived in Buduburan, and still have family who live ther. I sew the extent of the Liberian condition in Ghana. I feel the pain of those who had to endure the suffering of the camp. We should be angry at the wrong-doing of those police. As Liberians, we need to realize that Buduburan/Ghana is not our home, and to understand that by establishing a permanent government in that area evokes a sense of belonging and ownership which Ghana is cautious of. Yes, as a whole we have the power to change our situation, but instead of asking for a handout from the international community, which we are so accustomed to, we need to contact the current government in Liberia to get an exit plan out of Ghana and back to Liberia. There are also Liberians who fled to The US who want and yearn for a Place to go back to and call home. Lets stop blaming and asking for handouts and feeling sorry for ourselves, and find a way back to Liberia. I am currently getting a degree in mathematics at the University of Iowa so i can bring it back to Liberia and empower my people.