Ghana’s Central Regional Minister, Mr. Kwamena Duncan has pointed out that the Gomoa Budumburam Refugee Camp which hosts Liberians has become a dangerous breeding ground for criminals.
Speaking at Central Regional Coordinating Council Meeting on Thursday, Mr. Duncan bemoaned the situation where these criminals hide in the camp to operate in Accra and the Central Region tormenting people in the enclave with all kinds of crimes.
The council meeting allows the Regional Minister to brief the heads of department, district chief executives and presiding members about the security situation in the region and the projects being undertaken by the government.
It is held twice in a year.
“The Budumburam Camp has been become a breeding ground for criminals and I wish this camp is completely disbanded. Although the power to disband it rests on national security institutions,” he pointed out.
His comment comes weeks after Eric Kojo Duah, the main suspect named in the recent killing of two police officers, Sgt. Michael Dzamasi and L/CPl Awal Mohammed was found to have lived in the area.
He noted that Central Region is a peaceful area but the refugee camp has become a hideout for hardened criminals who engage in highway robberies and other heinous crimes.
The Regional Police Commander, DCOP Paul Manly Awini said the Budumburam Camp presents great challenge to the police operation in the region because the camp host diverse people with different backgrounds whose activities are very difficult to track.
A swoop by the combined military and police last week led to the arrest of 325 suspected criminals who were sent to Accra for screening.
The refugee camp was created by Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings when his Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) military junta secured the place and designated it to Liberian refugees.
DAP/as/APA