Ghana hosts over 12,000 registered refugees and asylum-seekers — Ghana Refugee Board

Tetteh Padi, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Refugee Board, says Ghana is currently hosting over 12,200 registered refugees and asylum seekers from 41 different countries.

Speaking at the commemoration of World Refugee Day in Accra on Thursday, June 20, Mr. Padi said "Ghana hosts over 12,200 registered refugees and asylum seekers.”

These refugees, he said, “come from 41 different countries, and even though the numbers are not huge, a lot more goes into our annual planning given their diverse backgrounds."

He added that there are estimated thousands more from Burkina Faso, currently in the Upper East and Upper West Regions who will be registered in the next few weeks.

Mr. Padi explained that Ghana's refugee population comes from diverse backgrounds, requiring complex planning and management from the Ghana Refugee Board.

According to Mr. Padi, these asylum seekers have expressed their willingness to work and earn a living rather than rely on aid.

“It is in the interest of all of us to do our bit to assist refugees to be independent…we stand to benefit from the skills that refugees possess,” the GRB Executive Secretary called on the public and benevolent organizations.

Under its mandate, the Ghana Refugee Board registers and provides protection to refugees.

It works closely with international organizations like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and domestic stakeholders like the Ghana Immigration Service to ensure refugees' rights are respected.

The event was held by the Ghana Refugee Board in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at the Refugee Community Center (Blue Oasis) under the theme SOLIDARITY #WithRefugees.

It was attended by Deputy Interior Minister Naana Eyiah Quansah, Ghana Refugee Board Chairman Dr. Kenneth Attafuah, Mr. Andrew Ginsberg of UNHCR.

Other bodies like the Christian Council of Ghana, Ghana Immigration Service, the International Organization of Migration (IOM) and others were also present.