Transition from emergency assistance to self-reliance of Liberian refugees in Gomoa-Buduburam, Ghana

Abstract

This thesis seeks to find out how Liberian refugees in Gomoa- Buduburam Ghana have being able to survive in the absence of emergency assistance from the international community (UNHCR). Buduburam refugee camp which is approximately 32 kilometres west of the capital, Accra, consists of the largest concentration of Liberian refugees in Ghana. The field study for this thesis commenced on October 1, to December 31, 2006. One hundred heads of households were interviewed in order to obtain a general view about the livelihood strategies devised for survival. Focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and secondary sources of information were methods I use to collect relevant data. The relationship that exists among livelihood security, assets, strategies and outcomes, depends on the ability of households and individuals to transform those livelihood securities into meaningful strategies for survival. The availability of assets could determine what livelihood strategy a particular household would seek to pursue. During the assistance phase, livelihood secured by the UNHCR for the refugees took the form of food, cooking utensils, health services, education, counseling, legal services, and job seeking. All of these affected their livelihood in a way when emergency assistance was withdrawn. Liberian refugees had to now depend on their own effort and skills to secure their livelihoods. Despite the withdrawal of assistance, Liberian refugees has being able to construct their livelihoods in diverse ways, thereby showing how they vary in their ability for self-reliance. In spite of other professional and social activities, petty trading is the main activity employed by the refugees for survival. In their quest for survival, Liberian refugees did face some problems; ranging from the unavailability of job opportunities, to robbery and perceived hatred. Liberian refugees have shown that they have the potential for self-reliance, when the need arises. In spite of the predicament of resettlement and repatriation, they all have but one desire; and that is to return to their country of origin at a certain point in time.