Violence at the Buduburam Refugee Camp

Hi Friends & Family,

Joven and I left the the Liberian Refugee Camp last Friday and on Sunday (the 13th) violence erupted. Many reports are claiming that the Liberian Refugees started the violence, but I strongly disagree with these reports. Volunteers and staff at Vermont Trust Funds for Women's Empowerment tell a very different story then what the Ghanaian media is reporting..

Liberian refugees were merely seeking a change in leadership at the Liberia Refugee Welfare Council. The Liberian people felt that the former leader did not have the refugee's best interest at heart.  I heard much about this change in leadership while I worked at the camp for the last month.  The Liberians were merely seeking a  democratic change in leadership by electing Victoria Nimely as their new leader, a woman who they believed would serve the refugee population better. 

On Sunday the 13th of February, plans were well underway to install Victoria Nimely. As the Liberians prepared for this service to take place at the Baptist Church the police stormed into the church building, destroying the decorations that were in the process of being set-up for the event.If the Liberian refugees were not already in church, they were preparing to attend the installation service. There was no violence by the Liberian people that sparked the violence of the Ghanaian police. I was told that the police tore down the Liberian flag and stomped on it.

Liberians that were preparing for the new leader's installation were arrested; we think about 50 people in all. As they were being led away others tried to stop the arrests from taking place and this is when the Ghanaian police began firing into the crowd, some bullets were live and others were rubber. They also used tear gas.

A 25 year-old girl, identified as Mamie was shot in the breast, as men tried to carry her to the clinic close by - the police used tear gas - the girl died. Others (maybe a total of 5) were shot, but no-one is sure if they died or not because the police quickly covered the bodies and removed them from the camp.

It is another sad day for Liberians on the camp.  Schools and markets are closed, people are staying in their homes, some have fled into the bush or to Accra looking for safety. It is a sad day for all of the people of Ghana, not allowing the Liberian Refugees the right to elect and install their chosen leader at the Buduburam Liberian Refugee Camp.