Representatives of Amahoro Coalition Center
Amahoro Coalition Center has charged Africa’s private sector not to see displaced persons as refugees but rather as potential opportunities for growth of the sector.
Strategy Custodian of Communications of the Center, Mercy Kusiwaa Frimpong, mentioned that 44 million Africans across the continent, especially young people, flee their homes due to conflict and others without their documentation or credentials to survive.
She said “when people flee across borders to new communities, they do not leave their skills behind, what they often leave behind are documentation, credentials, professional networks and legal recognition,” stating that these items are important to find jobs to rebuild their lives with dignity.
Ms. Frimpong explained that the Africa Pathway Employment series is developed by Amahoro to challenge the separation between displacement as a humanitarian issue and employment as an economic issue.
She emphasised that delay in documentation for refugees contributes to the challenges they face as part of their integration process in the country.
She added that the coalition helps displaced persons integrate into the countries they find themselves, stressing that this helps boost the private sector revenue if the displaced persons are working.
Ms. Frimpong stated that Kenya, which is the second largest country that hosts refugees, with about 836,000 refugees, has about 2,500 businesses that are operated by refugees, which makes 30% of the economy and contributes to the growth of the country.
She stressed that the private sector should be open and flexible to recruit displaced persons who have tangible and relevant skills, to contribute to the sector, adding that the government should resource the Ghana Refugees Board since it is the first port of call for people who are displaced.
She added, “Anybody who comes to this country as a result of conflict or running away from their own country, the first place that they go to is the refugee board, and they are the people that support the economic integration.”
Amahoro Coalition Center convenes Africa’s private sector leaders to provide tailored solutions for displaced communities, and works together with the Ghana Refugees Board to help integrate displaced persons in the country.
By Florence Asamoah Adom