172 Ivorian refugees seek asylum in Ghana

One hundred and seventy-two Ivorians have, since the last two weeks, fled into Ghana to seek asylum.

The refugees are said to be fleeing in anticipation of possible disturbances in the run-up to the Côte d’Ivoire Presidential elections in October this year.

They are currently being housed at the Ampain Refugee Camp in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.

The Executive Secretary of the Ghana Refugee Board, Tetteh Padi, who briefed the Daily Graphic last Wednesday, said, “We have some Ivorian’s who have come into the country to seek asylum based on the fact that they predict or believe that there is a bit of tension leading up to the presidential election.

“They think that it could get worse, so they have come into the country to seek asylum,” Mr Padi said interview.

Asylum seekers

The Ghana Refugee Board Executive Secretary said the board had registered them as asylum seekers and provided whatever was necessary for them to be able to survive.

For those who have come to the Ampain Refugee Camp, Mr Padi said, “They have been given shelter and whatever else they will need, but we are not giving food as it stands at this moment.”

He said the refugees started coming in two weeks ago, but explained that the numbers had been a bit lower than they were last week.

He expressed concern that the numbers would not go up, so as not to have so many of them (Ivorian refugees).

He was also hopeful that the election would be peaceful.

Mr Padi said once the Presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire is peaceful, the refugees would return to their country.

The Ghana Refugee Board Executive Director further added that before the arrival of the Ivorian refugees, the Ampain Refugee Camp had some Sudanese refugees who came in weekly.

“So from time to time, we get a few from Sudan and we send them to Ampain,” he stated.

Background

The Presidential elections of Côte d’Ivoire are set to take place in October this year, and the announcement by President Alassane Ouattara, who first came to power in 2011 after months of political violence that left about 3,000 people dead, is another test case for the stability of the French colony. 

After some stability, the country is now being tested by President Ouattara’s latest announcement to run for a fourth term.

The announcement has stirred up anger from voters and opposition candidates, some of whom had been barred from contesting the elections.