Accra, May 24, GNA - Ms. Wheatonia Dixon-Barnes, Executive Director of Liberia Refugee Repatriation Resettlement Commission (LLRRC), on Wednesday expressed regret at the slow pace of the voluntary repatriation of Liberians in Ghana describing it as "not encouraging". She said since the beginning of the programme in October 2004, only 5,117 Liberian refugees assisted by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) had returned home from Ghana as compared to 97,718 from Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Speaking at a tripartite meeting between the governments of Ghana, Liberia and UNHCR in Accra, Ms Dixon-Barnes attributed this to the congenial atmosphere Ghana, which offered opportunities to the refugees. "Ghanaians have generally been receptive to Liberian refugees and many of these refugees have established businesses and married some Ghanaians," she said.

Ms Dixon-Barnes expressed the hope that the meeting would provide solid foundation necessary to set the parameters for an orderly transition from voluntary repatriation to the pursuit of other solutions to the problem of Liberian refugees in Ghana and thanked Ghanaians for their continued hospitality.

Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of the Interior, said all efforts must be made to encourage Liberian refugees to return adding, "No one but Liberians can rebuild Liberia."

Mr Kan-Dapaah noted that while local integration of refugees was a solution, geographical and economic factors were a hindrance to it. He said government would look at the available options in the interest of Ghana and the refugee beneficiaries.

He expressed government's gratitude to the UNHCR for the support given towards the maintenance of refugees.

Ms Aida Haile Mariam, UNHCR representative in Ghana, thanked government for hosting Liberian refugees for over a decade saying, "Refugees in Ghana always go home with this hospitality etched in their minds."

The meeting focused among other issues on the way forward for Liberian refugees who may opt not to return to their country. It was preceded by field visits to the two main refugee hosting sites, Buduburam and Krisan settlements, to update them on progress in Liberia and also inform them of the deadline for the voluntary repatriation programme which is due in July 30, 2007.

UNHCR together with the governments of Ghana and Liberia would ensure that returnees receive adequate protection, assistance and care throughout the repatriation and re-integration process in context of a region-wide effort to assist the refugees to return home and to contribute towards the rebuilding of their country. Ghana currently hosts some 26,000 Liberian refugees out of which an estimated 15,000 have registered.