DESPITE THEIR CONDITIONS, LIBERIAN REFUGEES ARE DOING GREAT IN GHANA

By SHEIKH S.S. KAMARA

THE WEST AFRICAN STATE OF GHANA HOSTS THE PROMIXITY OF FORTY THOUSAND LIBERIAN REFUGEES WHO HAVE FLED THE THIRTEEN-YEAR CIVIL UNREST IN THEIR COUNTRY.

THE REFUGEES ARE ENCAMPED IN A TERRAIN JUXTAPOSED A VILLAGE CALLED BUDUBURAM SITUATED IN THE CENTRAL REGION OUTSIDE OF THE CAPITAL, ACCRA. THE SIDE BY SIDE PLACEMENT OF THE CAMP TO THE BUDUBURAM VILLAGE AUTOMATICALLY GAVE IT THE NAME, BUDUBURAM REFUGEE CAMP OR THE LIBERIAN REFUGEE CAMP.

COMPRISINGLY, THE CAMP HAS A POLICE STATION-THE GOVERNMENTAL DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED TO MAINTAIN ORDER, ENFORCE THE LAW, AND DETECT AND PREVENT CRIME AMONG LIBERIANS;

ALSO AN INSTITUTION ESTABLISHED TO GOVERN AND SEEK THE WELL-BEING OF LIBERIANS IS 'THE LIBERIAN WELFARE COUNCIL'. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL IS MR. JOHN CORNELL. THE WELFARE COUNCIL IN IT'S ENTIRETY IS THE MAKE-UP OF LIBERIANS;

THERE ARE OVER TEN ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, MOSTLY NURSERY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THE ONE AND ONLY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL IS THE BUDUBURAM SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL IS PRINCIPALED BY MR. EMMANUEL WESLEY AND MR.EDWARD TAYLAY AS THE VICE PRINCIPAL. THEY ARE ALL LIBERIANS. OTHER INSTITUTIONS ARE 'AHEAD'-AGENCY FOR HOLISTIC EVANGELISM AND DEVELOPMENT, A VOCATIONAL INSTITUTION; COMPUTER, NURSING, SEWING, DRAFTING AND OTHER HOME ARTS LEARNING ARE AMONGST THE MANY INSTITUTIONS.

IN AN EFFORT TO END THE LIBERIAN CIVIL CRISIS, LIBERIANS MOST OFTEN CONGREGATE AT THEIR VARIOUS WORSHIP CENTERS TO PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY GOD AND SEEK HIS DIVINE FAVOR. THE CAMP HAS ABOUT ELEVEN WELL-ESTABLISHED CHURCHES AND MANY, MANY FELLOWSHIP CHAPELS. IT HAS BUT ONLY ONE MOSQUE.

AND THERE ARE TWO HEALTH CENTERS ON THE CAMP; THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH CLINIC GLARINGLY OWNED BY THE LUTHERAN CHURCH AND ST. GREGORY CATHOLIC CLINIC UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

IN SPITE OF THE ADVERSITIES LIBERIAN REFUGEES ARE FACED WITH IN GHANA, THERE ARE MANY OF THEM WHO ARE PROGRESSING SURMOUNTABLY TO ENHANCE THEIR ACADEMIC, POLITICAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC WELL-BEING.

DELIGHTFULLY, THE CELESTIAL BLESSING BESTOWED UPON LIBERIANS IS CONSPICUOUS IN THEIR STRIVE FOR SUCCESSFUL LIVING.

JUST TO NAME A FEW AMONGST THE MANY LIBERIANS DOING GREAT IN GHANA ARE, SIS. THOMPSON, THE PROPRIETRESS OF 'TRUSS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL', A REPUTABLE NURSERY SCHOOL IN BUDUBURAM-GOMOA DISTRICT; MR. BEN SEKOU KABA, MANAGER OF 'AMIGO INTERNET CAFE', THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT CAFE SINCE BIRTH AMONGST THE THREE INTERNET CAFES OF BUDUBURAM; MR.VIEN GRAY, PROPRIETOR AND MANAGER OF 'INFONET COMMUNICATION AND BUSINESS CENTER'- AN ENTITY THAT HAS VARIETY OF SERVICES SUCH AS TELEPHONE CALLS, SALES IN MOBILE PHONES AND ACCESSORIES, SECRETARIAL SERVICES AND A SALON. OTHERS ARE MR. VAMBA KENNEH, SALES-AGENT FOR THE COCOA-COLA BOTTLING COMPANY OF GHANA. HE MANAGES THE ONE AND ONLY COCOA-COLA DEPOT AT BUDUBURAM.

AND LASTLY IS THE YOUNG AND BRILLIANT MOHAMMED B. KORLEH OF ACADEMIA. HE IS A SENIOR STUDENT OF THE BUDUBURAM SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL. STUDENT KORLEH IS DOING REMARKABLY WELL IN HIS ACADEMIC STUDIES. AMONGST THE FEW INGENIOUS STUDENTS, HE PERSISTENTLY CONTINUES TO TOP THE LISTS OF BRILLIANT STUDENTS OF THE INSTITUTION. THE HOPE OF WORLD CULTURE IS THE PRODUCTION OF MORE GENIUSES, AND THE ONLY WAY TO PRODUCE THEM IS TO MAKE MEN AWARE OF THEIR GENIUSES. CONVERSELY, THIS WAS MANIFESTED WHEN THE ADMINISTRATION OF BUDUBURAM SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL AWARDED MOHAMED B. KORLEH A CERTIFICATE OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.'WHAT A PRECIOUS JEWEL OF OUR CULTURE AND TIME.'

MEANWHILE, EVERYTHING THAT IS, IS OF EVERY OTHER THING THAT IS. NOTHING IS OF ITSELF ALONE. ALL THINGS ARE INDISSOLUBLY UNITED. SO ARE THE LIBERIAN MANDINGO REFUGEES IN GHANA WHO HAVE SINCE JUNE 17, 2001 CONGLOMERATED UNDER ONE UMBRELLA BEARING THE NOMENCLATURE, 'ASSOCIATION OF LIBERIAN MANDINGO REFUGEES IN GHANA', PRESENTLY UNDER THE CONSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP OF MR. BRAHIMA KAMARA.

HENCE, BECOMING A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE BEFITTING THE SOCIETY AS A STRUGGLING REFUGEE IS NOT A SITUATION WHEREIN VIRTUES EASILY TRIUMPH OVER VICES BUT INSTEAD, IT IS THE ENDEAVOR IN WHICH ONE HAS TO BE ROBUST AND RESOLUTE TO WITHSTAND THE WHIMS AND CAPRICES. THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THOSE WHO PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR ITS COMING; MAKE YOUR LIFE ADVENTUROUS, READY AND WILLING TO MEET ANY CHALLENGE THAT MAY COME YOUR WAY, AND YOUR PERSONAL UNFOLDMENT WILL SOON BECOME A REALITY.

WHATEVER DESTINY YOU PLAN FOR YOURSELF, THAT DESTINY YOU CAN REACH IF YOUR DESIRE TO REACH IT IS STRONG ENOUGH. DESIRE ALONE IS THE CONTROLLING FACTOR, NOT MONEY, NOR FAMILY, NOR POSITION. NO ONE'S INFLUENCE CAN MAKE YOU 'GREAT'. YOU ALONE CONTROL YOUR OWN DESTINY. BRAVO! TO THOSE MANY LIBERIANS DOING GREAT IN GHANA. FOR HERE COMES A NEW DAY.