-By Liberian returnees
The management of the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) has strongly refuted allegations by Liberian returnees that they are being maltreated and the government through LRRRC has reneged to fulfill its initial promises made to them.
A recent LRRRC release states, “Management wants to categorically state that at no time did the government through LRRRC fail to live up to its promises. This is false and misleading. LRRRC is currently working with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to ensuring that final payment is made to returnees.”
The Management of LRRRC called on the media to report fact based information instead of spreading falsehood or promoting misinformation that has the propensity to undermine the progress government has made on bringing back former refugees.
The government through LRRRC under the first and second phases of the repatriation program, repatriated 1,539 stranded Liberians from Buduburam Camp, Ghana. 770 arrived under the first phase while 769 arrived under the second phase. The former refugees arrived in Liberia on 24th and 11th of May and June 2024.
Before their arrival, the government renovated the CARI Regional Transit Center in Gbarnga with 24 hours electricity and other facilities. “The government also prepared other LRRRC local offices across the country for a short stay before re-integration into the community,” the LRRRC release notes.
It continues, “The stranded Liberians while at CARI, the LRRRC provided 24 hours services including three-time feeding per day as well as security for their safety. The LRRRC and partners provided mattresses, phones, sim cards and other essential packages to the former refugees as an initial empowerment.”
As it stands, the government through LRRRC and the ministry of Finance and Development Planning says it has made a tremendous efforts to pay about 80% of the total returnees. “Each family head received US$300 while the dependent received US$225.”
