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Ghana: Human Rights Groups Sue Government Over Detained Refugees
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UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
26 March 2008
Posted to the web 26 March 2008
Accra
A coalition of human rights organisations has sued the Ghanaian government for "gross violation" of the rights of Liberian refugees in reaction to the simmering stand-off over repatriations.
"The government's forced deportation and detention of these refugees without recourse to the courts is a blatant violation of the rules of natural justice," said Edward Amuzu, head of the Ghana legal resources centre.
Some 630 refugees, mostly women and children, are being detained at a camp in the Eastern Region of Ghana and are under heavy police guard following their arrest by the Ministry of Interior on 17 March. Of these refugees, 16 have already been stripped of their refugee status and deported to Liberia.
The refugees were arrested for holding a one-month protest to draw attention to what they said were unfair condition under which they would be repatriated.
A Liberian government delegation is holding diplomatic talks with the Ghanaian president on 26 March to try to resolve the stand-off.
Refugee demands
In early March 500 of the refugees delivered a petition with three demands to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Ghana Refugee Board, saying they did not want to be integrated into Ghanaian society.
Instead they demanded to be resettled in a third country, preferably in Europe. They also said they would return to Liberia but only if they were provided with US$1,000 each - ten times the amount UNHCR is offering.
Legal action
The Human Rights Coalition is filing a suit on behalf of one of the detained refugees, Chucider Lawrence, asking the Ghanaian government to release her and provide justification for her arrest and detention.
"We want to test the law with this case and depending on the outcome we will proceed with a general suit to compel the government to answer to the gross human rights abuses of the [all the detained] refugees," said Amuzu.
Under Ghanaian law no one can be detained for more than 48 hours without being arraigned.
Government position
The Ghanaian government has justified its action saying the refugees have violated laws by protesting to the police without notice.
"Further deportations have not been discarded," said Ghana deputy information minister, Frank Agyekum, however he also said the deportations have been suspended pending the outcome of diplomatic discussions with the Liberian government.
Agyekum said the government is basing its right to deport the refugees on a 1951 Refugee Convention clause which states that when conditions have improved in a refugee's country of origin the host government is no longer obliged to host them.
Minister of State in the Interior ministry, Nana Obiri Boahen, told IRIN that the government "welcomes the suit [and] will respond appropriately."
Diplomacy
A Liberian delegation held talks with Ghana's ministers of interior and foreign affairs and high-ranking national security officials in Accra on 25 March and will speak to Ghanaian President John Kufor on 26 March.
So far the meetings ended "inconclusively," Agyekum said.
But he added, "Both delegations are resolved to reach conclusions that are mutually beneficial."
UNHCR 'not pleased'
The UN refugee agency said it hopes to convince Ghana to find alternative solutions to deportation. "We are not very pleased with the way things are right now," spokeswoman for UNHCR in Accra Needa Jehu Hoya told IRIN.
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"UNHCR is doing all it can to ensure the rights of the refugees are protected," she said adding that UNHCR said 13 of the deported refugees were legally registered.
Some 40,000 Liberian refugees still live in Ghana, according to the Ghana Refugee Board, most of them live in Buduburam camp in Central Region, 60 km west of the country's capital Accra. The rest live in the Krisan camp in Ghana's Western Region.
[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations ]
I want to first thank the human rights group in Ghana for the step taken thus far against their government for such an unfair and unrealistic action towards the refugee in Ghana who by any mains can not protect themselves rather to rely on the government for security and protection. The Ghanian government was too quick to act without addressing the concerned of the refugee and to ensured that their actions were peaceful. This is a clear indication that the road to uniting ourselves as a people, as a region, and as a continent is yet far... [Read Full Text]
I want to thank the human rights group in Ghana for the step taken against their government for such an unfair and an unrealistic action taken towards the refugee in Ghana who can not by any mains protect themselves rather to rely on the government for security and protection. The Ghanain government was too quick to act without addressing the concerned of the refugee and ensured that their actions were peaceful. This is a clear indication that the road to uniting ourselves as a people, as a region, and as a continent is yet far from ... [Read Full Text]
I am happy that the fighting for the restoration of human dignity is a global issue and concerns. Most Africa countries has regained their independence in many years ago and sometimes, people behave and react just like they have never been to school. Why the judicial branch of the goverment is created for? And why institutions are created to make sure people abide by these laws?
But in the event of the Ghana Minister of interior, he has broken these laws into his favor which, he is the cause for the violation of the rights of these refugees which he... [Read Full Text]
Greeting toall the human rights in Ghana.Iam very please for what your are doing forwe the Liberian.Iam very very thankfull. The deportation for the Liberian refugees in Ghana,Iam not please with the decision make from the Ghanan Gonernment.Because we are one people and the way things going on right now with the Liberian refugees in Ghana, is very very pinfull to me.We need peace. thanks perg Shorrow.
For those that live in war country and those that see it from media such as TV, Radio, and News paper etc and who had the opportunity to visit Refugee Camps and see the effect of war , especially with Children and see their lives , how they look and the environment which they live . RCA, knowing the facts that Africa is the second largest continent in the world and the civil conflicts and civil war are found within Africa , with such , there are lot of b refugee camps in Africa , lot of orphans children ,... [Read Full Text]
u r right Loran. tell them. U would think they knew.what a shame!
Come on, Dada Koffuor, come on Ghana. you are known for your stunch democratic principles such as freedom of expression and speech. Now why do you seem to catch the cold when unharmed, meek and dependent liberians simply voiced out their concerns, not even to you, but to the UNHCR, and all of a sudden you begin to shiver and let loose commandoes to guard a few sheep? It is uncalled for and this action of yours is far below your standard as a world-recognised nation which guards the inalienable rights of people living within your jursidiction... [Read Full Text]
They are people with rights and I am glad that the Human rights groups have step on the toes of the Ghana goverment to know ,no matter what ,refugees, or not , they have rights and they were violated. they are not cattle to be herded. The standoff of repatriations is no excuse for any human beingf to be treated as these people. the Liberians to be treated. it was over stimulated of human behavior treatment. as ameroican citzen Not only I, but other Anericans are watching this situation closely and so is the world. Too many childern and women... [Read Full Text]
Well,everything in dis world got its starts and end. i for example felt very bad and angry with the issue on the ground between Lib/Ghanaians.Frist of all, being a refugee is nt a crime and secondly,Ghanaians should be greatful for all the helps my fellows(liberians)had done for them.Ghana is wat it is today becus of the same people the claim are rebels(Liberians refugees).Their government sold our rites as a refugees and now wants to send us back after they have develop their country.I was a month old wen i left Lib and i spent my whole life in ghana.Ghanaians(government)should know... [Read Full Text]
Let us use diplomacy to resolve this problem and rethink our African of treating a stranger and the stranger father(host).Our Liberian brothers and sisters are not criminals so the Government of Ghana should not treat them as such. Remember,thousands of Ghanaian lived in Liberia as well so deportation is not the way forward.
lartinkonneh
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