Liberia Refugees In Ghana Reject Repatriation Offer

The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has revealed majority of Liberian refugees in Ghana are turning down the offer to be airlifted back to their native country. �A vast majority of the refugees wish to remain in Ghana so we are also hoping that the Ghana Government will come out with a local integration policy or steps towards local integration or regularising their stay in Ghana,� Ewurabena Hutchful, the UNHCR PRO disclosed. �[That could help] so that before the June 30th deadline where Liberian refugees status end the remaining population will have some legal status to remain in Ghana.� She confirmed that the first batch of 45 Liberian refugees will be airlifted to Liberia later Friday. �I can confirm that 45 Liberian refugees will be travelling to Liberia today by air as part of our voluntary repatriation exercise and the second batch totaling 90 will be travelling by Sunday to Liberia,� she said. She emphasised that by June 30 this year, all Liberian refugees including those in Ghana will have their refugee status revoked. She, however, pleaded with the Ghana Government to institute early measures towards reintegrating those who are willing to be naturalised.