The Liberia Embassy, in collaboration with the government of Ghana, has repatriated over 750 Liberians living in Ghana.
This follows the demolition of the Buduburam refugee camp.
The batch of over 750 people evacuated on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, is the first in a series of planned repatriations.
Another group is scheduled for evacuation next week.
Some Liberian nationals who spoke to reporters before getting on the buses expressed mixed feelings.
While some were excited to return to their home country finally, others expressed disappointment.
One of their leaders, Dennis Yoko Gwion, expressed disappointment in the government and the police for not sheltering them after the camp was demolished.
The Buduburam camp was demolished on February 27, 2024, rendering about 600 people, including Liberians and Ghanaians, homeless.
The demolition, scheduled for 2021, was postponed following pleas by residents for adequate time.
It was necessitated by concerns from chiefs in the area about the increasing social vices and the camp being turned into an abode for suspected criminals.
The Gomoa East DCE, Solomon Quarm, stressed the Buduburam camp had outlived its usefulness. Hence, the call from the chiefs was a step in the right direction.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Refugee Board at the time said the camp was no longer a refugee camp.
According to the Executive Secretary, Tetteh Padie, most dwellers at the camp were not refugees.
“Buduburam is no longer a refugee camp. We have several people living there who are not refugees. In fact, most of the people living there are not refugees, including the Liberians.
“Since the demolition, we’ve done some head counts, and so far, 268 persons who are refugees have come forward as having been affected,” he stated.
He explained that these people were their responsibility, and plans were in place to relocate them to other refugee camps.
“We have two refugee camps in the Western Region, in the Ellembelle district, and we are moving them into one of these camps.
“So, for these people who have opted to go to the refugee camp, we will provide free transportation. We will provide some money for them to start; this will be provided by the UNHCR; they are our partners,” he explained.