Petition to safeguard the rights of refugees in Ghana

PETITION

Buduburam Refugee Concerns International is a campaign led by a coalition of grassroots international NGOs and designed to safeguard and defend the rights of refugees in Ghana.

On Monday, March 17th, at about 4am local time, over 600 refugee women and children were rounded up and arrested by a Ghanaian police force armed with tear gas and machine guns. While about 90 of the most vulnerable among these were released on March 21st, the rest remain in detention, their fate hanging in the balance - the government of Ghana is threatening to revoke their refugee status and deport them back to Liberia.

On Saturday, March 22nd, an armed Ghanaian police force raided the Buduburam refugee settlement yet again, this time arresting Liberian men, in an apparently random manner. The police allegedly beat young men playing basketball with batons, and raided the camp clinic, taking away people waiting for treatment. Men were taken from their homes - we have spoken to people who were hiding in the bush, or locked inside their homes, for fear of arrest by the Ghanaian authorities.

A Liberian Immigration official reported that 16 refugees were flown out to Liberia in the early hours of Sunday, March 23rd – they arrived at the airport with no one to sponsor them. They were sent without warning, without their belongings, without support. They did not receive the $100 repatriation allowance that was promised by the UNHCR. 13 of the 16 forcibly repatriated individuals have since proven their official registration with the UNHCR as refugees in Ghana; thus, dispelling the government's explanation for their forced repatriation.

While we understand the concerns of the Ghanaian government regarding respect for public order in their country, we are gravely concerned about the safeguarding of the rights and well-being of refugees in Ghana.

Ghana has long been a leader of stability and democracy within West Africa. We urge them not to jeopardize their reputation by acting with impunity during this time of crisis. Ghanaian authorities must realize that the forcible removal of refugees from their country will not be without consequences and that they bear responsibility for these actions.

The international community is on alert and will demand accountability for these egregious abuses of the rights of refugees.

Given the current situation, we plead for the following steps to be taken:

1.) That the Government of Ghana immediately release the remaining detained women and children, who have been in their custody since Monday, March 17th;
2.) That the Government of Ghana suspend all further action regarding revocation of refugee status and deportation until new negotiations between all concerned stake holders take place;
3.) That the UNHCR – both the local office and the international headquarters – take on a much more active role in safeguarding and defending the rights of all refugees in Ghana immediately;
4.) That the UNHCR institute a plan for disengagement of their services on the settlement and a transition to new status for Liberians and other refugees in Ghana and that sustainable solutions to the current protracted refugee crisis be developed and implemented jointly by all relevant stakeholders;
5.) That any further decisions regarding the status of refugees in Ghana be decided jointly between all involved parties. All options should be explored and clearly explained to the refugee community.

This crisis began with a peaceful sit-in protest held by the refugee women of Buduburam, later joined by their children and the elderly. Life on camp was disrupted by this, but violence never broke out, and the movement remained peaceful and orderly. The Buduburam refugee settlement is home to approximately 40,000 refugees, and while the majority of refugees are Liberian, Buduburam is also home to refugees hailing from various African countries, including Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire and even Sudan. The livelihoods and well-being of this entire community are being jeopardized and threatened by the current crisis. The current response by the Ghanaian authorities is disproportionate. Media coverage of this situation is worryingly skewed towards the Ghanaian perspective, and the plight of refugees in Ghana is being misconstrued and misrepresented.

We urge the international community at large - including media organizations, human rights advocacy groups, public institutions and private citizens – to demand transparency and accountability from the Ghanaian government and the UNHCR, and for the continued protection of the rights of refugees in Ghana.

Furthermore, we call for increased international attention through thorough and objective journalistic coverage, in order to keep authorities honest and accountable for their actions.

For more information, please contact info@theniapeleproject.org