Dr. Cassell Begs Ghana to Reconsider Buduburam Demolition -Extols Ghana-Liberia Relations -Laments Weah Govt Lukewarm Attitude

 The political leader of Liberia’s newest opposition establishment, the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), Dr. Daniel Estrada Cassell, is begging the Ghana Government to have consideration on Liberians that currently face forced eviction from the Buduburam Refugee Camp in Accra, Ghana. Invoking the spirit of African solidarity, and the goodwill of the Ghana Government and its people in helping not only to resolve Liberia’s past civil conflict, but providing their country as a central point for Liberians fleeing the ravages of war to resettle in Ghana, and seek greener pastures in the Americas and Europe through the resettlement program that permeated from Buduburam, Dr. Cassel implored the Ghanaian authorities to kindly halt the demolition of the refugee camp to avert an impending humanitarian catastrophe that the current Government of President George Weah has completely overlooked.

According to Dr. Cassell, in a public statement issued late Tuesday, his attention has been drawn to the unfortunate situation unfolding on the Buduburam Refugee Camp in Accra, Ghana—where some of Liberia’s beloved citizens have been seeking refuge for more than two decades now, and where he is urgently dispatching a top executive of his political institution to access the situation for remedial assistance.

“I have been reliably informed that failure on their part to vacate the Camp in line with the agreed deadline the Ghanaian Authorities have embarked on a demolition exercise to compel them to relinquish the camp to make way for development initiatives by the host nation (Ghana). Even though we are not happy to see our people homes being demolished with no immediate hope of a reasonable alternative to salvage their well-being, I like to express profound thanks and appreciation to the government and people of Ghana for the incredible and historic show of generosity in hosting thousands of Liberian Refugees in their country for well over twenty years. In every respect, Liberia owes Ghana a depth of gratitude for such degree of kindness that cannot be quantified in any quantum,” Dr. Cassell reasoned, noting that in the spirit of the African Solidarity which Ghana has pioneered for several decades, he, on behalf of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP) humbly appeals to the Government and people of Ghana to exercise restraint and due consideration as they have always graciously done for Liberian refugees over twenty plus years, to halt the ongoing demolition exercise and allow negotiations to prevail from which a possible and amicable solution to end what now seems to be humanitarian crisis would be reached.

“We know that in all efforts to reclaim the land on which the Buduburam Camp sits on for the sole purpose of national development, the government and good people of Ghana would never be happy to see thousands of homeless Liberians languish in the streets of Accra to the peril of their safety. Henceforward, we plead with them to pause the demolition to make way for possible inventions to suitably bring this crisis under control. And while plead for the compassion of Ghana, we call on our people to remain calm and refrain from all acts that have the potential to further exacerbate the crisis afoot,” Dr Cassell begged, further supplicating the prompt intervention of ECOWAS, the United Nations, the International Red Cross, Medicine San Frontiers, and other humanitarian groups to quickly engage with the government of Ghana in finding the best solution to ending this crisis and preventing our people from further despair and trauma.

Vexation With Weah Government

As he seemingly bent on his knees to beg the Ghanaian government for consideration on the Liberian refugees that would be left vulnerable upon the demolition of their homes in Buduburam, in the absence of proper repatriation or resettlement interventions, the PLP vision bearer registered his utter disappointment with the Weah government’s lackadaisical attitude towards the unfolding situation, terming it as insensitive.

“While we make these SOS calls, I must state how appalled, stunned, and disappointed I am yet again to see that while Liberians are faced with a painful and unbearable humanitarian crisis in a foreign land, the George Weah-led government has said and done absolutely nothing to address the plight of its citizens on the Buduburam Refugee Camp.

“I would assume that considering the circumstances besetting our people, a responsible, sensitive, and patriotic government, would by now, be deeply engaged with the government of Ghana to halt the demolition exercise and forge a workable outcome to ending this nightmare—suffice to say by now, we expected to see representatives of the Weah government in Ghana comforting and instilling hope into our brothers and sisters, but sadly, it seems the plight of Liberians both at home and abroad doesn’t matter to the government of Mr. George Weah as we recently saw how the government insensitively and  recklessly responded to the scaring wave of mysterious realistic killings across the country.

“It marvels Liberians that while young girls and ordinary citizens are being murdered in cold blood and body parts gruesomely abstracted, Mr. Weah and his confidants are fabulously celebrating his birthday party for days at the expense of the already strained national coffers. If such behavior is not irresponsible, insensitive, careless, wicked, and unremorseful, I know no other way to describe the continual disposition of the Weah government.

“I send my prayers and solidarity to fellow compatriots on the Buduburam Refugee Camp and would like to inform all Liberians that the People’s Liberation Par ty (PLP) will dispatch over the next few days its Acting National Vice Chairman for International Affairs to Accra, Ghana to meet with our fellow Liberians so as to assess the humanitarian conditions on the Camp, and establish how we can effectively mobilize needed support for our brothers and sisters enduring this painful and demeaning condition.

“To the government and dear people of Ghana, I once again express abundant thanks and appreciation for all you have done for our people and plead with you to allow the “United Africa” solidarity championed by your founding father Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to prevail now and always. We are One Africa and Africa is home to all Africans, no matter which geographical location an African finds him/herself. May the saving and divine grace of the Almighty God intervene and intercede in this life altering and historic event of our Liberian Citizens in Ghana!” Dr. Cassell stated emphatically.