The LRRRC has denied the returnees’ allegation and clarified that there’s no illegal entry of foreigners in the ongoing repatriation of Liberia returnees from Ghana.
By Emmanuel Wise Liberia
Monrovia, June 19, 2024: The second batch of Liberian returnees lodged at the Liberia Refugees Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) transit in Johnsonville, Montserrado County, has alleged inhumane treatment.
In an interview with the NewDawn newspaper over the weekend, they also alleged the infiltration of a huge number of foreigners.
Samuel Johnson identified himself as the spokesperson of the second batch of the Liberian returnees at the Johnsonville Transit Center.
Among the challenges confronting Liberian returnees, Johnson listed unhygienic environment, lack of sanitation, and contaminated bathrooms, among others.
“We have been robbed, cheated, and [are] insecure to where we are. We are left to die in our own country and there is no one to cater to us, as our people [are] contracting diseases and bacteria daily,” a spokesman for the returnees, Samuel Johnson said.
“We are contracting diseases, sickness and different kinds of bacteria daily, fungal, from contaminated bathroom, squeezed-up shelter, and the worse of all foreign infiltration is impeding our repatriation,” one returnee explained.
“We are struggling here, seriously suffering. Our people [are] contracting diseases and bacteria daily as we are made to sleep in a congested [area], a one-time meal, and some of our people who were identified [for] medication no longer adhere to it,” he said.
Another concern raised by the Liberian returnees is the LRRRC’s alleged failure to disburse the promised resettlement funds.
The aggrieved returnees are unsure what amount the commission will hand over to them.
They claimed that they were initially told that they would receive US$300 for adults and US$225 for children.
But they said there are speculations that LRRRC officials are not giving the rightful amount.
Many of those speaking to the NewDawn preferred anonymity, but they claimed that the congestion of their shelter in Johnsonville caused serious health hazards.
They also complained about the influx of foreigners who have allegedly mixed with Liberian returnees, saying it has been undermining their process.
However, their spokesman, Mr. Johnson, decried the infiltration of foreigners, alleging that they are using Liberian documents and causing serious problems for the typical Liberian returnees.
“These foreigners [are] causing problems for us as typical Liberians,” Johnson alleged.
“They use Liberian documents, aided by LRRRC experts, and [were] registered in Ghana as Liberians,” Johnson continued.
According to him, they raised an alarm against the alleged foreigners boarding the bus to Liberia as Liberian returnees, but nothing came out of the concern raised.
He continued: “They are coming in with goods as marketers, and they [are] in a huge number causing disturbances, which is worrisome to us,” Johnson narrated.
He also accused experts and staffers at the LRRR of allegedly bringing in dozens of foreigners and registering them as Liberians.
He identified some of the alleged foreigners as Princess Davis, Divine Dolo, and Theresa Pratts, among others, who allegedly infiltrated the Liberian returnees with goods.
He said these individuals used Liberian names to come into the country and rob the Liberian government of taxes.
Additionally, he claimed that they were aided by the LRRRC experts to bypass various customs officials.
“The LRRRC must answer how these foreigners entered illegally and had documents, and impersonating as Liberians,” Johnson demanded.
“These foreigners are robbing the Liberian returnees [of their] benefits; packages that should be given to us are now shared equally,” Johnson lamented.
Responding to the allegation against the LRRRC, the entity’s Director of Communication, Cevet Witherspoon, denied any illegal entrance of foreigners into the ongoing repatriation of Liberia returnees from Ghana.
Madam Witherspoon said the repatriation process was conducted according to procedures such as registration, medical, social counseling, and immigration, and foreign nationals were not infiltrated.
“You cannot come to Liberia if you are not okay as a Liberian. There was no infiltration, no foreigner brought to Liberia, absolutely no foreigners,” she noted.
“Even those who were Liberians, married in Ghana and requested to return home had to sign a consent form and were scrutinized,” she added.
