241 Liberian Refugees disappear from Essipong Centre

Sekondi, July 11, GNA - Two-hundred and forty-one out of 500 Liberian refugees, who arrived at the Takoradi Naval Base in early June and were housed temporarily at the Essipong Refugees Reception Centre, have left the Centre without the knowledge of the authorities.

This was discovered after the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) conducted a headcount on July 7, Mr Padmore K, Nyekopa Arthur, Western Regional Co-ordinator of NADMO told the GNA in an interview.

He said at present the Centre has 237 Liberians and seven Burkinabes adding that NADMO was negotiating with the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) to convey the Burkinabes to their country.

Mr Nyekopa Arthur said the refugees escaped because the security at the Centre was poor.

He said though the Centre lacked some basic facilities, NADMO and its partners have provided tents and beddings, while the Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly and the Ministry of Health were supporting with water and medical supplies.

Mr Nyekopa Arthur said questionnaires filled by the refugees showed that they all wanted asylum and said their request had been forwarded to the Ghana Refugees Board for advice.

Approval of the request would enable the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to grant them that status. He said a site for a new refugee camp at Aboadzewuram in the Mpoho Wassa East District was rejected by the United Nations Agencies without assigning any reasons.

The Regional Co-ordinator warned canoe fishermen who charged 20,000 CFA Franc to ferry stranded refugees to Ghana to stop the practice since their action posed security risk to the State. Mr Nyekopa Arthur appealed to chief fishermen on the country's Western Border to advise their members to stop the practice.