More than 2,000 Togolese Refugees to Integrate into Host Communities in Ghana

The Chairman of the Ghana Refugee Board, Ken Dzirasah says two
thousand 300 Togolese refugees in the Volta region have opted to
integrate into communities hosting them in Ghana. He however explained
that the laws of Ghana forbid them from any political activities such
as voting in elections in Ghana, Some of the refugees are said to have
sought refuge in Ghana between 1993 and 2005 due to the political
developments in Togo. 

The headquarters of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, would provide funds to support
government's effort to implement the local integration, process under
the “Seeds for Solutions Project,” launched in Ho.

The UNHCR Ghana Representative said for those choosing local integration…the “Togolese Government would provide them with national passports, while the Ghanaian authorities provide residence permits, after vetting by the Ghana Immigration Service. 

The Project is said to be based on Ghana’s proposal, which was accepted by the UNHCR Head Office in Geneva from among 18 countries. 

The main objective of the two-year project is “to ensure that refugees access national services, achieve self-reliance and obtain an alternative legal status… by 2015.

Under the Project, a market assessment and value chain analysis will be conducted to determine the marketability of skills and trade areas
where the refugees have comparative advantage. 

A total of 400 refugees
who engage in indigenous farming will be supported with agricultural
inputs and farm tools. 

Micro-credit will be extended to 150 refugees who are engaged in trading, in addition to 243 refugees who are
already benefitting from such facility.
 
Some of the refugees will also benefit from vocational and technical skills training and given start-up kits.
 
Refugees, who want to, would be enrolled into the National Health Insurance Scheme. 

There will also be a “one-off enrollment for 100 adolescents who have successfully completed basic
schools and have obtained the required grades in the West African
Examination Council’s Basic Education Certificate Examination in
public schools. 

Mr Dzirasah cautioned those refugees still undecided on integration that the chance would not be there for them once the international community (UNHCR) has announced the day on which the
integration status has been granted to their compatriots. 

He advised those who have opted to be integrated to conduct themselves well and obey the customary laws and traditions of host communities and be
actively involved in development activities. 

Mr Dzirasah who explained issues concerning integration to chiefs and representatives of the refugees, advised the Togolese to be united in their approach to welfare issues and not lose sight of their Togolese nationality. 

Volta Regional Minister, Helen Adjoa Ntoso, appealed to communities hosting the refugees over the years to continue to do so because “communities grow and develop not only from their citizens but largely from visitors and strangers. ” Mrs Ntoso assured that “the government will continue to provide the needed peace and stability in the West Africa sub-region to serve as a safe zone for neighbouring countries.

GBC