VZCZCXRO9459
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHAR #0380/01 0791641
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 191641Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6309
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0391

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 000380 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AND PRM 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PREF PREL LI GH
SUBJECT: Interior Minister Discusses Planned Deportation of Liberian 
 
Refugees 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: In a March 18 meeting with Ambassador Bridgewater, 
Interior Minister Kwamena Bartels said that the GOG is collaborating 
closely with UNHCR, the Ghana Refugee Board, and the Government of 
Liberia in implementing plans to revoke the refugee status and 
deport 659 Liberian refugees who were arrested after demonstrating 
at Buduburam refugee camp since February 19.  Bartels stressed that 
the GOG is complying fully with the law, and that UNHCR is 
facilitating the repatriation by organizing a UN aircraft for the 
effort. In contrast, UNHCR's Ghana Representative indicated 
subsequently that it would only consider the aircraft request if the 
repatriation were voluntary. End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Ambassador Bridgewater, accompanied by POL Chief, met March 
18 with Ghanaian Interior Minister Kwamena Bartels, to discuss the 
recent arrest of Liberian refugees at the Buduburam Refugee Camp, 
and the GOG's announcement that it would terminate the refugee 
status of those who had been arrested, and deport them imminently. 
In attendance were Minister of State (MOI) Nana Obiri Boahen and 
Ghana Refugee Board Chairman Bawumia.  Boahen and Bawumia had 
returned that afternoon from Buduburam, where they were accompanied 
by a UNHCR representative and the Liberian Ambassador to Ghana. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Ambassador Bridgewater expressed U.S. concern that the GOG 
adhere to its international obligations concerning refugees, 
including the 1951 Convention requirements regarding 
non-refoulement, and urged the GOG to collaborate closely with UNHCR 
and the Ghana Refugee Board. 
 
¶4. (SBU) In response, Bartels made the following points: 
 
-- The refugees have been demonstrating since February 19 and were 
in breach of the Public Order Law. 
 
-- The refugees have stated that 1) they do not want to integrate 
into Ghana; (2) they want resettlement in a Western country 
(preferably the U.S.); and (3) they want USD 1000 per person if they 
return to Liberia. 
 
-- The organizers have prevented children from attending school, 
forced all schools to close, and prevented the distribution of food 
aid to the elderly and children.  Refugee leaders who disagreed with 
this strategy were threatened and had to flee. 
 
-- Ghana has hosted these refugees for 18 years and these 
demonstrations and demands are a sign of ingratitude. 
 
-- If the refugees will not accept local integration, will not be 
resettled in a Western country, and will not receive USD 1000 for 
repatriation, then they must respect the law.  Otherwise, the GOG 
has no choice but to prosecute and revoke their refugee status. 
 
-- The GOG has arrested 659 refugees, and has initiated a 
consultative process to invoke the Cessation Clause for Liberian 
Refugees. 
 
-- The GOG will not allow this group to destabilize Buduburam and is 
carefully applying the law to deal with the issue. 
 
-- The GOG has collaborated closely with UNHCR, the Ghana Refugee 
Board, and the Liberian government.  Neither UNHCR, the GRB, or the 
Liberian Government had objected to the plan to revoke refugee 
status and deport the 659 Liberians. 
 
-- Furthermore, UNHCR had arranged for a UN aircraft to pick up the 
Liberian deportees, and Liberia's Foreign Minister will travel to 
Accra tomorrow to consult with the GOG. 
 
-- In an aside following the meeting, GRB Chairman Bawumia said it 
was unfortunate that a "few instigators" were causing trouble for 
the other Liberian refugees.  He opined that the instigators were 
probably ex-combatants, and that a large amount of the frustrations 
among refugees was due to the fact that they have nothing to show 
for the 18 years they have been at Buduburam. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Following the meeting with Minister Bartels, Ambassador 
Bridgewater spoke with the Liberian Ambassador, who confirmed the 
plan for a UN plane to arrive in Ghana to pick up the refugees, 
probably on Thursday.  He noted that the Liberian Government had 
issued a formal apology to the GOG for the behavior of the refugees, 
but expressed concern that if refugees are sent back to Liberia en 
masse, it could cause a security problem for the GOL.  He also added 
that Liberians at Buduburam were phoning contacts in Liberia and 
encouraging them to engage in similar demonstrative activities in 
solidarity with Buduburam residents. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The Ambassador was unable to speak with the UNHCR 
Representative in Accra but learned March 19 that she had given the 
 
ACCRA 00000380  002 OF 002 
 
 
BBC an interview on the subject (we are trying to get that 
transcript).  Ambassador was able to speak March 19 with UNDP Res 
Rep Daouda Toure who said UNHCR had received similar information 
that there were a few at the camp who had instigated and fueled the 
demonstrations.  Both Toure and Ambassador said that it is important 
for the GOG to insure that international protocols are guaranteed 
for the refugees, as well as making sure that the laws of Ghana are 
not broken. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Subsequently, Accra Refugee Coordinator (RCO) spoke with 
Ghana UNHCR Representative Aida Haile Mariam.  Mariam said that the 
Government of Liberia had asked UNHCR for help in repatriating the 
arrested Liberians.  UNHCR responded that if this was a voluntary 
repatriation, they would consider the request.  However, if this is 
a deportation, they could not.  In implementing voluntary 
repatriation, noted Mariam, UNHCR generally requires the refugee to 
sign that they are making the decision voluntarily.  Mariam also 
said that UNHCR had gained access to the detention facility that 
afternoon, but had not yet received the names of those in the 
facility from the GOG. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Comment: Bartels appeared calm, but determined to press 
forward with the deportations, and his tone conveyed considerable 
GOG anger over the Liberians' demonstrations and demands after 18 
years in Ghana.  While he and the GRB claim to be collaborating with 
UNHCR, it is unclear whether UNHCR is effectively communicating, 
both with regard to the aircraft and to the legal steps the GOG must 
follow with the refugees.  As we are unable to assess whether 
appropriate legal standards are being applied by the GOG, we 
recommend that RMA Geneva consult further with UNHCR headquarters. 
END COMMENT. 
 
9.(U) Post will continue to monitor this situation and provide 
updates as we receive new details. 
 
BRIDGEWATER