An assessment of Liberian refugees' reluctance to return to their home country: a case study of Liberian refugees in Ghana

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Hinga, David
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University of Guelph
Abstract

This thesis is an assessment of the Liberian Refugees' presently living in Buduburam Refugees' Camp in Ghana who are reluctant to return to their home country of Liberia. The research was conducted in Buduburam refugees' camp in Ghana West Africa, where Liberian refugees have lived for close to two decades and are still reluctant to return to their home country. This research is a descriptive and exploratory analysis of a sample of 150 refugees' who were systematically selected to represent the total number of 6,900 refugees' who were living in the camp between June-August 2008. The study was conducted using both qualitative and quantitative methods. For the quantitative aspect, questionnaires were delivered and administered to respondents based on systematic sampling. The qualitative aspect of this research was conducted through interviews conducted, involving representatives of institutions that are responsible for the day to day activities of the refugees' under study including the chairman of the refugees' welfare council who is also a residents of the camp. Interviews, focus group, observation and questionnaires used in this research showed that refugees' especially the youth are reluctant to return to their home country for many reasons including, the factors of insecurity back home, fear of prosecution upon their return, economic, resettlement, repatriation concerns among many others are the underlying factors for their reluctance to return to their home country. The study also outlined recommendations based on the conclusions.

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Keywords
Liberian Refugees, Buduburam Refugees' Camp, Ghana, reluctance, repatriation
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