General News of Thursday, 13 July 2006

Source: GNA

Liberian delegation visits Ghana to witness to peace

Accra, July 13, GNA - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is facilitating a high level ministerial delegation of Liberians to visit Ghana to give them an insight into progress and development of what peace and stability could achieve.

The delegation, which arrived in Ghana on Thursday was made up of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Ambulai Johnson, the Executive Director of the Liberian Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC); Wheatonia Dixon Bames, Deputy Commissioner for Immigration, Joseph Kekula and staff from UNHCR's office in Liberia. A statement the UNCHR office in Accra issued on Thursday said the meeting which follows a fact-finding mission by five Liberian refugee delegates from Buduburam Refugee Settlement to Liberia last April was expected to among other issues, report on progress made thus far and reiterate the Government of Liberia's commitment to receive and absorb refugees into the mainstream.

The Mission comes one week ahead of the scheduled departure of some 300 refugees by sea to Liberia, and would include open forum with the Liberian refugee communities both at Buduburam and Krisan refugee settlements.

Ghana hosts some 38,000 Liberian refugees, who form the majority of the approximately 60,000 refugees in the country. To date UNHCR has assisted over l67, 000 Liberian refugees to return home from exile with Ghana repatriating some 3,500. 13 July 06