afrol News, 18 March - The Director and co-founder of a project that operates in the Buduburam refugee camp in Ghana, The Niapele Project has contradicted claims by the Ghana government that the protesting refugees stripped on the streets.

Penelope Chester said the protest took the form of a peaceful sit-in carried out by women and children on one of the fields in the refugee camp for the past few weeks.

Ghanaian officials have threatened a group of Liberian refugees with deportation after they were accused of conducting nude protest in public.

The protest was exacerbated by the alleged plans to return refugees home with US $100 instead of resettling them in the West.

Liberia's 14-year brutal civil war had forced thousands of Liberians to seek refugee in many parts of West Africa. Despite the return of peace and stability, some Liberian refugees are yet to return home.

There are more than 25,000 of them currently living in Ghana. They are accused of refusing to integrate into Ghanaian society.

Ghanaian police have reportedly removed refugees from camps before they mistreat them, accusing them of conducting unlawful carrying out unlawful protest.

But refugees vowed to continue protest at the UNHCR office in Accra.

Liberian President, Ms Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf had earlier invited Liberian refugees to return home to rebuild their country or else quickly integrate themselves into Ghanaian society.

UNHCR officials in Ghana have expressed concern about the arrests and detentions of Liberian refugees.

An inquiry into the issue is expected to open soon.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Related pages and feature

Current afrol News Top Stories