Ghana today joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Refugee Day with a call on all to work towards a more inclusive and equal world where no one is left behind.
A joint press release by the UN Refugee Agency in Ghana (UNHCR) and the Ghana Refugee Board, said the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing anti-racism protests in several countries shows all of us have a role to play in order to bring about change.
It said the theme for the day, “Everyone can make a difference; Every Action Counts” is to remind the world that everyone, including refugees, can contribute to society and every action counts in the effort to create a more just, inclusive, and equal world.
“Unfolding events in the past few months have shown us that no one is safe until everyone is safe” said the UNHCR Country Representative to Ghana, Ms. Esther Kiragu.
“This clearly demonstrates the value of our interdependence and interconnectedness. It should not take another crisis of this nature to remind us of this golden truth.
We should be able to say that at the end of the day when faced with adversity, our humanity prevailed, and we were able to come together, both locally and across borders” she added.
Ms. Kiragu said the Covid-19 pandemic has underscored the need to ensure that all interventions are inclusive and they reach all vulnerable segments of society, including refugees.
“The socio-economic impact of the pandemic has been especially severe on refugees whose meager livelihoods have almost grounded to a halt. On this World Refugee Day we make an appeal for support to all well-wishers to enable them, and the communities that host them, fight the pandemic. Everyone can make a difference – every action counts” Ms Kiragu noted.
According to the Board Chairman of the Ghana Refugee Board, Professor Kenneth Attafuah, “Ghana has been exemplary as a host country, by offering protection to, solidarizing with, and including refugees in the provision of access to the necessities of life, at the same levels available to our nationals. We will continue to live up to our responsibilities towards refugees and asylum seekers. ”
Ghana currently hosts 13,366 refugees and asylum seekers from 38 different countries, Ivorians being in the majority. Almost half of the population live in camps located in the Central, Western and Bono Regions of the country, with the other half residing in various urban areas.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri