Repatriation

The repatriation program has been organized by the Ghanaian government and UNHCR to help refugees who want to return to Liberia. Living on the refugee camp began very tough since the withdrawal of UNHCR’s supports. All aids have been stopped immediately after election in Liberia. Although security situation in Liberia can not be assured hundred percent but some Liberians who can not afford to live on the Camp and in Ghana without the assistance of UNHCR left with no option but to return to their country f origin. These returnees are carried back by air and water. The first step is, you register with those responsible and time can be given to you for an interview. After the interview. They are given bags to put their clothes and other luggage. Those who go by air are given limited luggage weight. They are allowed to carry 30 kilo weight of bag while those who go by sea or ship can carry unlimited kilo luggage. Some of refugees can be joyous when leaving the refugee Camp. UNHCR can promise that certain amount of money will be given to them when they get in Liberia. This promise alone motivated more people to register and go back. When the scheduled to depart for reaches, they (returnees) will carry their entire luggage to the Buduburam football field where the busses from Accra awaiting them to carry them either to the port or Air port. On several occasion, I have witnessed their departure. They can start singing from the Camp until they reach to Accra. I can imagine how happy they can be when going home (Liberia) after spending over one decades in exile. To their greatest surprise, the amount of money UNHCR promised to give them was not the amount of money they gave them when they got in Liberia. I met a woman by name of Diakan and this is what she said: I and my children were given the amount of five American dollars each to pay transportation to go and find our people. Some who have returned to Liberia have turned to internal displaced people in Liberia again because they do not have house to sleep in. Can you imagine that? It is very shameful to live like a stranger in Liberia. My mother wanted to register and go back to Liberia. After telling me about her intention, these are the questions that asked her. Do we have house in Liberia presently? Where are we going to be? Or do you want us to live in displaced Camp like others who had returned? My mother did not give me any answers to these questions. I finally told her that it will be better we stay in the refugee camp than going home now.