Over 8,000 Ghanaian refugees still in Côte d’Ivoire-Minority counters Foreign Minister’s figures
The Minority in Parliament has challenged claims by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, that over 8,000 Ghanaian refugees displaced by the Gbinyiri conflict have returned home from Côte d’Ivoire.
In a press statement issued on Friday, September 19, the Minority in a statement signed and issued by Deputy Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nana Kwame Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, described the Minister’s figures as inaccurate, following a fact-finding visit to Vonkoro — one of the largest host communities for displaced Ghanaians in northern Côte d’Ivoire.
Nana Kwame Asafo-Adjei Ayeh making presentation
According to the Minority, contrary to the Minister’s report that only 5,309 refugees remain in Côte d’Ivoire, their assessment shows that approximately 8,000 Ghanaians are still in host communities, with about 5,000 in Vonkoro alone and the rest scattered across areas such as Dagbekura, Gbotogbo, Tchormiikura, and Masiiten.
They argue that the Minister’s claim misrepresents the real situation on the ground, warning that such statements risk undermining the trust of the affected populations and the wider public.
The Gbinyiri conflict, which erupted in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region over a land dispute, forced about 13,000 Ghanaians to flee across the border into Côte d’Ivoire, according to a joint humanitarian assessment involving UNHCR, IOM, WHO, WFP, and other agencies.
During the Minority’s visit to Vonkoro, the refugee leadership expressed concern over the lack of follow-up by the Ghanaian Embassy and insisted that no large-scale return has occurred. They stressed that any decision to return home depends on assurances of safety and the outcome of ongoing mediation efforts.
The Minority called on President John Mahama to fast-track peace efforts and ensure the safe and voluntary return of displaced citizens. They also donated CFA 2 million to support the affected communities and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting national peace and security initiatives.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister had earlier stated at the Government Accountability Series in Accra that security had been reinforced in the affected areas and that the government had donated CFA 6 million and other relief items to support the return process.
The disagreement between the government and the Minority highlights growing concerns about transparency and coordination in the management of Ghana’s internal displacement crisis.By:Abigail Arthur
