Gomoa Buduburam crime declines but traders miss Liberian customers

The crime rate at the once-feared Gomoa Buduburam (Liberia Camp) in the Gomoa East District of the Central Region has declined, confirmed a senior police officer stationed at Buduburam.

He said that criminal activities such as robbery, assault and prostitution have all been curbed.

In an interview with The Mirror last Saturday, Inspector Patrick Boadu, the station officer at the Buduburam District Police Headquarters, attributed the reduction in crime to the departure of many residents, primarily foreigners.

"What we have been recording since the Liberians left here are mostly cases of petty theft," he said, adding that the camp had previously become a haven for robbery gangs, which have since been dispersed.

He noted that the departure and law enforcement efforts have yielded positive results in the area. 

He expressed hope that "when the place is fully developed, crime in the community will reduce drastically."

“This is because we have noticed that few of the foreigners, particularly Liberians, are back and they are living in wooden structures and so if development activity is sped up, it will really help,” he explained.

Follow-up visit

The Mirror visited Gomoa Buduburam to assess living conditions and the security situation following the departure of Liberian refugees and other nationals between May and June this year. About 4,300 Liberians returned home as part of a repatriation effort organised by the Liberian government and the Liberian Refugee Repatriation Resettlement Commission.

 The camp was also demolished to pave the way for redevelopment, including the construction of a new market.

Community response

Some residents confirmed the decline in crime and commended the security personnel, especially the police, for their diligent efforts.

Market impact

Despite the drop in crime, residents and traders reported that the absence of Liberian customers has negatively impacted business.

Traders expressed that they missed doing business with the Liberians, who, unlike Ghanaians, bought goods and services without haggling over prices.

Madam Comfort Annor, a pepper seller, lamented the decline in sales, noting that her produce was spoiling due to lack of demand.

“When the Liberians were here, I sold one bag a week. But now, I can’t even sell half of that. My basket of tomatoes has all rotted. I really miss them,” she said.

Another trader, Ernest Oteng, who has been selling in the area for 12 years, shared that many traders have left the market due to low sales.

Pointing to empty tables, he said, "These tables have all been paid for, but the traders no longer come because business hasn’t been the same since the Liberians left.

Ghanaians want to buy at a lower price, but a Liberian would just pay."

Liberians in the area

The few Liberians The Mirror encountered were individuals who identified as partially Ghanaian, with stable jobs and accommodations outside Buduburam, only visiting occasionally to socialise with Ghanaian friends.

One such person, Kelvin Polley, said that his father was from Komenda in the Central Region and his mother was Liberian.

"I live with my wife, who is also Liberian. I didn’t relocate, because I am still a Ghanaian," he said with a smile.

Writer’s email address: lydiaezit@gmail.com