By Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo
The Upper West Regional Coordinator of the Ghana Refugee Board (GRB), Joseph Aniah, says behind every refugee is a story of courage, displacement, and resilience. He observed that, as a result of the peculiar situation of refugees, economic empowerment remains the cornerstone of GRB’s protection efforts.
Mr. Aniah continued that empowering refugees economically is not an issue of charity, but a justice-related phenomenon anchored on investment in peace, development, and human potential. He made the observation at the 2025 World Refugee Day celebration at Zini in the Sissala West District of the Upper West Region.
Mr. Aniah equally stressed the need for refugees to be offered “vocational training, livelihood support, land, financial inclusion as well as skills development,” to serve as a catalyst for them (refugees) “to stand on their feet, contribute to their host communities, and rebuild their lives with pride.”
He paid tribute to World Vision and other partners for supporting youth training programmes, farming initiatives, water access interventions, among others, and reemphasized World Vision’s unwavering support in making the 2025 World Refugee Day event in Zini a success.
Commenting on the theme for the occasion, “Solidarity with Refugees”, Mr. Aniah noted that “it resonates strongly with GRB’s work in the Upper West Region. It reminds us that in the face of adversity, solidarity, compassion, and unity among people—regardless of status or origin—can build resilient communities that uphold the dignity and dreams of all,” he noted.
Mr. Aniah expressed appreciation to members of the host community for their generosity in welcoming “our brothers and sisters [the refugees]” and entreated all stakeholders to go the extra mile to foster genuine community integration by strengthening partnerships with the refugee population, ensuring peaceful coexistence, and shared development.
The Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs & Response Manager of World Vision Ghana, Samuel Gmalu, said it is predicted that globally, over one billion people are to be displaced by 2050 as a result of conflicts and climate change.
He pointed out that in 2022, West and Central Africa hosted 11.2 million forcibly displaced and stateless people, including 7.8 million internally displaced people (IDPs), 1.6 million refugees and asylum seekers, and 931,200 stateless persons. “These numbers have continued to increase due to the crises in the Sahel and the conflict in Sudan,” Mr. Gmalu added.
According to UNHCR, as of December 2024, Ghana was hosting approximately 17,300 registered refugees and asylum seekers—mainly from Burkina Faso, Togo, Liberia, and Sudan. Refugee populations are primarily located in four areas: the north (Burkinabe), the west (camp-based), urban centers (including Accra), and the Volta Region (Togolese).
He therefore called on all to empathize with the plight of refugee children and show solidarity with all refugees, recognizing that refugee children deserve the right to learn, play, and grow up in safety.
Mr. Gmalu reiterated the necessity for all stakeholders to ensure that refugees have access to education, healthcare, and protection, and to work towards durable solutions that enable them to rebuild their lives with dignity.
He was full of praise for the Chiefs and people of the Zini Traditional Area for playing host to the refugees. Mr. Gmalu entreated religious bodies to support government’s efforts in catering for refugees at the Zini and other camps across the country.
A former DCE for Sissala West, Madam Aisha Batong, appealed to people in areas hosting refugees to be patient and tolerate them [refugees] to enable them to integrate well on all fronts.
The Chief of Sangbaka, Kuoro Arafat Kanyan Wiawor, who deputised for the Paramount Chief of Zini, Kuoro Abu Diaka Sukabe Ninia, announced that as part of the Traditional Area’s efforts to improve inclusion and build resilience, a 200-acre farmland has been secured for the settlers in the camp to help improve their livelihoods.
Kuoro Wiawor noted that the move has the potential to impact the local economy and urged the Ghana Refugee Board to lead in the negotiations to meet the “cultural requirements” for the rental of the land.
The Chief indicated that the continuous instability in the West African sub-region makes it easy for people to become refugees against their will and charged governments and other agencies to be proactive in addressing the needs of communities that have the potential to degenerate into violence.
Kuoro Wiawor was also not happy about the growing number of internally displaced people in the country due to tribal and land conflicts.
As part of the celebration, WVG, with support from Unilever Ghana, presented toothpaste and toothbrushes to children at the Zini refugee camp. A Community Health Nurse at the Zini Health Centre, Madam Patience Naabie-eru, who was on hand to educate the children on how to take care of their oral hygiene, stressed the need for them to brush their teeth at least twice daily.
The Northern Sector Operations Manager of World Vision Ghana (WVG), Rexford Bugre Yamdorg, commented on the dental hygiene initiative. He told GBC that Unilever Ghana has been supporting WVG with some Pepsodent and brushes to upscale education on oral hygiene.
Mr. Bugre Yamdorg said they have organized dental hygiene exercises in other districts, including Bawku West District and in the southern sector of Ghana.
Touching on the importance of oral health education in partnership with the Ghana Health Service, Mr. Bugre Yamdorg said World Vision, as a child-focused organization, attaches much importance to the health of children and caregivers.
He said a mechanized water system has been provided through partnership with UNHCR and the Ghana Refugee Board at the Zini camp. Mr. Bugre Yamdorg stated that flush places of convenience and bathrooms have also been provided for the refugees.
He gave an assurance that WVG and its partners will work with the traditional authorities in the host community to support the refugees to find their feet.
