Friends Of Brumskine Identifies With Refugees In Ghana

Moses M. Zangar, Jr.
Accra, Ghana


The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia

July 31, 2003

More than 150 Liberian refugees on the Buduburam Camp in Ghana were on Saturday, proud recipients of an assortment of food supply donated by the United States branch of the Friends of Brumskine (FOB-USA). The FOB is a friends club that shares Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine’s political ambition for the Liberian presidency and his vision to deconstruct and rebuild Liberia anew under the rule of law.

The items were being channeled through a local humanitarian organization, the Partnership in Democracy and Nation Building (PADENAB), for onward distribution to Liberian refugees on the camp.

Most of those who benefited from the assorted food items were mostly the elderly and abandoned folks on the refugee camp.

The food ration included 53 bags of rice, 22 cartons of vegetable oil and 500 sachets of magi cubes amongst others.

The gesture, according to the Friends of Brumskine, signifies an explicit recognition of the plights of Liberian refugees and a manifestation of the organization’s desire to identify with them.

During our visit on the camp Saturday, scores of older folks politely queued in front of a community clinic to receive their ration. They were heard thanking God and Cllr. Charles Brumskine for the gesture. “A friend who comes to the rescue of another who is desperately in need is a true friend”, an outspoken old man remarked.

Besides, many youngsters (Liberian refugees) on the camp who witnessed the distribution lauded the efforts of the FOB. They described the distribution of food items to the elderly as a magnificent display of patriotism and brotherly love. They hoped the Friends of Brumskine would also help in providing medical items to ease the problems associated with medication, especially for the women and children as well as the elderly.

Cllr. Charles W. Brumskine who had earlier attended a thanksgiving service at the Christian Inter-denominational Assembly on the Buduburam Camp on Saturday, briefly observed the distribution and later tour the camp in a bid to further acquaint himself with the plights of the refugees.

He told a huge crowd of Liberian refugees how he hoped durable peace and stability would return to Liberia so they can return home and contribute their quota toward rebuilding the nation and helping to restore its gloomy image forecast.

The Buduburam Refugee Camp is approximately 403 square acres and is locate about 30 miles from the Ghanaian capital, Accra. The Camp currently plays host to thousands of Liberians who fled successive civil melee in the country.

Liberians there are faced with poor sanitary condition apparently owing to congestion. Consequently, residents, mainly children are vulnerable to diseases and other vector transmissions.

Life on the camp is somewhat difficult as majority of the residents survives on remittance from family members and friends, mainly in the United States and other places.

Moreover, those without relatives abroad are left at the mercy of God and other friends to survive. In many instances, they have had to fend for themselves to get a day’s meal.