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Liberian refugees in Ghana who have refused to subject themselves to a voluntary repatriation have lost their status as refugees. Only those of them who opted for local reintegration will be allowed to stay in Ghana after today. The refugees were given a June 30 ultimatum by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Ghana Refugee Board in February this year. They were asked to decide whether or not to voluntarily return to their country of origin or legalize their stay in Ghana. Out of over 11,000 refugees who were in Ghana, about 3,000 have left to continue life in Liberia and other parts of the world. The chairman of the Ghana refugee Board, Ken Dzirasah in an interview with XYZ News said a total of 4,279 who opted for local integration will soon be granted residential status. According to him, the refugees who refused voluntary repatriation have lost all benefits, protection and allowances offered them by the UNHCR and the Ghana Refugee Board. One of the leaders of the refugees, Nelson Charlie said their repatriation exercise was not properly done by the Ghanaian authorities. �Liberian refugees had serious problems when it comes to permanent residence in Ghana and we have been speaking over and over about it�so it not something that we have sitting down on it we have been talking�.