Gomoa Akyempim chiefs demand compensation for Buduburam Refugee Camp

March 03, 2011
Gomoa Assin (C/R), March 3, GNA - The Standing Committee of the Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Council has appealed to the government and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, to pay compensation for the use of Gomoa Buduburam as a refugee camp.

Addressing a press conference at Gomoa Assin in the Central Region on Wednesday, the Paramount Chief; Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea II, expressed regret that since the camp became functional in 1990 to accommodate Liberian refugees, nothing had been paid to the owners of the land.

Flanked by members of the Standing Committee, Obrifo Ahor Ankobea said the Council had suffered a lot of inconvenience through the use of the camp.

He claimed that the people had lost lands they farm and fed on and affected by the crime wave associated with the large number of the refugees.

The Paramount Chief said even though peace had returned to Liberia most of the refugees were unwilling to return to their country, adding that as a peace loving people, "we will not force them to leave".

Obrifo Ahor Ankobea said this notwithstanding; "we would expect them to obey the laws of the country".

He pointed out that the recent misunderstandings between the refugees and the black lash with personnel of the Ghana Police Service would not be tolerated in future.

"We expect them to live peacefully with their brothers and sisters and with the indigenes."

The Paramount Chief condemned a report attributed to Mr Oppon Weah, the Liberian football Star who urged the government of Ghana to take good care of the refugees.

"This statement is uncalled for since government has been able to take good care of them for 21 years," he said.

The chiefs also condemned indiscriminate winning of sand in the Gomoa area.

Obrifo Ahor Ankobea urged the sand winning contractors not to use the permits they acquired from the Minerals Commission and the District Assemblies to flout the orders of the chiefs who were the custodians of the land.

The Paramount Chief announced the formation of a task force to regulate sand winning in the area and also ensure that the desecrated lands are reclaimed.

GNA