Refugees excited about Bartels’ dismissal

Rosemary Dennis, 28, had her baby firmly strapped at her back. She sat on a wooden bench with other Liberian refugees at the UNHCR office at Buduburam, which has served as their home for many years. She was waiting for her turn to confirm if her name was on the list of other refugees expected to be repatriated back to Liberia this week.

“A lot of us are going home ‘cause we’re not wanted anymore,” she said in apparent reference to accusations levelled against them by dismissed Interior Minister, Kwamina Bartels. He had accused them (refugees) of harboring ex-combatants at the camp. The accusations followed a demonstration in March by a group of Liberians, mostly women, to protest plans to send them home with $100 as against the $1,000 they demanded or to be resettled in any Western country.

The women were alleged to have stripped naked. They were subsequently arrested and sent in different buses to a newly created camp at Kordiabe in the Eastern Region at the behest of Mr. Bartels.

Days after the incident, Mr. Bartels told journalists in Accra the demonstration was a security threat to the country, adding that most of those sent to Kordiabe are part of those whose actions have the potential of disturbing the country’s peace.

Rosemary Dennis whose cousin was arrested and later deported back to Liberia, said it’s surprising Mr. Bartels claimed most of those arrested were a security threat to a country they’ve lived all their lives.

“At least, I came here as a teenager so how can I turn my back on a country that has been kind to me all these years,” she said with a frown. “You can see all these people are tired of this place.”

Looking back, Ms. Dennis said most of them are still wondering what would have influenced Mr. Bartels to come out with those comments.

“It’s funny when you hear people in power tallk like that,” the mother of two told the dailyEXPRESS.

Mr. Bartels was dismissed by President Kufour as the Interior Minister, replacing him with his (blood) brother former Defence Minister Dr. Kwame Addo Kufour. No reason was assigned for his dismissal despite the numerous speculations making rounds in media cycles.

Ms. Dennis said she was pretty much excited when she heard the news about the dismissal of Mr. Bartels last Saturday.

“We Liberians are like the biblical Israelites, you touch us you touch fire,” a fair coloured lady sitting two pews away from her said. “You can go and ask the Ivoriens.”

A petit UNHCR official soaked in sweat emerged with a megaphone and yelled out the names of those who have been confirmed to be on board the flight back to Liberia. Ms. Dennis’s name was the 26th on the list and she gave a big sigh of relief.

“Finally I’m making it back home,” she said this time with a strong Liberian accent. “It’s been weeks of going and coming on this same issue but I’m happy now.”

She switched the conversation back to Mr. Bartels dismissal-saying her friends who were deported under his instructions would be happy to hear the news.

“I think it should be on the internet and most of them will read it.” According to her though Mr. Bartels dismissal will not bring anything meaningful to her, she’s happy it took place at a time she was still here in Ghana.

Ms. Dennis who owns a hair dressing salon told dailyEXPRESS, going back home will not be easy but she’s ready to start life all over again.

“I set up the business myself and I’ve saved enough to begin something when I get home… I can’t wait to have my feet touch the soil of Liberia and my brother.”

Her two sons Simon (6) and Jonathan (almost a year) are her only hope now. She said she was going to go home to work hard, and ensure they get the best in education.

“I’m going to work-out my sweat and blood to ensure they get the best in life.”