Sierra Leonian Refugees Begin Pouring Into Ghana

Accra (GAR), July 3, A fishing vessel, "Melia Reffer," arrived in the country last night with 66 Sierra Leoneans on board to seek refuge in Ghana. Speaking to GRi in an interview this morning, Togbi Sedem Klubi, Public Relations Officer of the National Mobilization Programme (NMP) said the Sierra Leoneans claim that they work for the fishing vessel and came to Ghana on their own accord. Togbi Klubi said 12 others arrived by boat on Wednesday afternoon and are being taken through registration processes. This, he said, is being done by the NMP and the UNHCR at the El Wak Stadium where they are being screened to determine their refugee status. Togbi Klubi said the refugees will be sent to the Buduburam camp. He said the NMP is liaising with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to grant safe passage to 19 Nigerians who arrived in the country with 540 Sierra Leoneans last month.