Buduburam refugee camp to be relocated

Plans are underway between the Government and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to re-locate the Liberian refugee camp at Buduburam in the Central Region. According to the former acting Minister of Interior, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, the shifting of the camp from where it is to an area, remote from the capital city of Accra had become very necessary for security reasons.

He noted that currently the camp, which was set in 1990 to cater for some 8,000 Liberians who fled the civil war in Liberia, currently harbours 30,000 people. The Defence Minister added that the re-location of the camp to a suitable distance from Accra would ensure a total control of the 4,000 suspected combatants by the national security apparatus.

Dr Addo Kufuor pointed out that the shifting of the camp could also ensure the protection of genuine refugees who adhere strictly to the law of the land. He said this during the handing over ceremony at his office at the Ministry of Interior on Tuesday. The former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Hackman Owusu Agyeman, has formally taken over from Dr Addo Kufuor as Minister of Interior.

Receiving the “baton”, Honourable Hackman Owusu Agyeman expressed his appreciation to the then outgoing Interior Minister for the tremendous performance during his two years’ stay in office. He, however, assured him of continued support to provide a stable democratic environment to ensure the total well being of Ghanaians in particular and foreigners in general.

He implored the media to put the interest of Ghana first and assist him to ensure lasting peace at Dagbon. Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor thanked media practitioners and the Security Agencies for the support offered him and hoped the same gesture would be extended to his successor.

He mentioned the Buduburam camp issue, Dagbon crisis, Fulani Herdsmen troubles and rampant land and chieftaincy disputes as some of the problems he faced during his tenure of office. He mentioned Highway robbery and frequent Police cum Military patrols in the cities as some of the achievements chalked.

Dignitaries who witnessed the ceremony included Kwadwo Owusu Afram, outgoing Deputy Minister of Interior, Nana Owusu Nsiah, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Barnes, Chief Director (CD) Interior Ministry. Others were Francis Poku, National Security Co-ordinator, Director, Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and Senior Police Officers.