President J.A. Kufuor has stated that the refuge situation in the country is alarming since the population at the Buduburam Refuge Camp has shot up from 4,000 to 30,000 refugees.

He therefore appealed to the international community to assist Ghana in order to resettle the refugees from La Cote D’Ivoire.

These were made when President Kufuor inaugurated a seven-member Refugee Board at the Castle, Osu.

The Chairman of the Board is Mr. A.O. Akiwumi, a lawyer by profession. The other members are Mr. K.O. Ansu-Gyeabour, Deputy Director of the Ghana Immigration Service, Brigadier (rtd.) Joseph Odei, and Mr. P.K. Forkuoh of the Bureau of National Investigation. The rest are Mrs. Ama Bamful, Chief State Attorney, Mrs. Cecilia Erzuah of the Ministry of Employment and Manpower Development and Mr. Ebenezer Apreku of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Addressing members of the Board, President Kufuor urged them to report regularly to government on what action to take in solving refugee problems. Members of the board swore the oaths of office and secrecy.

Earlier on, President Kufuor swore-in Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosa as a member of the Prison Service Council and Miss Anna Bossman as Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ.