By Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu, GNA
Tarikom (U/E), Sept. 21, GNA – Mr Tetteh Padi, the Executive Secretary of the Ghana Refugee Board (GRB), has discarded the notion that refugees are a burden on society.
“Indeed, most refugees come with skills, professions and qualifications,” he said.
The Executive Secretary said the GRB was working with partner agencies in an endeavour to give opportunity to refugees to work and contribute to building the host societies they found themselves.
Mr Padi said this when he addressed stakeholders and refugees at the launch of a joint support project on Persons of Concern (PoCs) at the Tarikom Refugee Camp in the Bawku West District.
The project, spearheaded by the Humanitarian and Social Affairs Directorate of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Ghana, is scheduled to start on October 1, 2025.
The six-months project would be implemented in partnership with the GRB, the Right To Be Free, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and the National Disaster Management Organization.
Mr Padi said: “I am very proud to say once again that when we received Burkinabe refugees, they told us clearly that they were not here because they want handouts. They said that they wanted to work and that we should make it possible for them to earn a living.”
He said a significant component of the project would address the livelihood needs of PoCs, adding that, “This fits in perfectly with the Ghana Refugee Board led flagship livelihood project; the Ghana Refugee Agribusiness Sustainability Programme (GRASP).”
He said the GRASP itself aligned with, and sought to complement Government’s Feed Ghana Programme.
“Indeed, the plan is to merge the livelihood part of the project with GRASP, a strategy that the GRB and the UNHCR have involved the National Development Planning Commission in developing,” Mr Padi said.
He encouraged the PoCs including refugees, asylum seekers, returnees, internally displaced people, among others, to take advantage of the opportunity by ECOWAS to build resilience, enhance their livelihoods and the Ghanaian society they found themselves in.
The Executive Secretary further encouraged the chiefs and people of the area to continue to live peacefully with the refugees.
Dr Stintiki Tarfa Ugbe, the Director, Humanitarian and Social Affairs of the ECOWAS Commission, said the PoCs project exemplified that humanitarian was not only for emergency.
She said humanitarian was building resilience of the communities and that the contributions of the GRB, the Government of Ghana and community leaders to the project, was to build the resilience of the refugees, internally displaced populations, asylum seekers and returnees to live in dignity.
She expressed the hope that the livelihood support as indicated by the Executive Secretary of the GRB, would be implemented as part of the project.
Dr Ugbe noted that, to the ECOWAS Commission, the launch was, “The beginning of deeper engagement, of listening and working very closely with the community.
“We envisage an Upper East Region where every person, regardless of their ability or their circumstances, will thrive,” the Director said.
Mr Donatus Akamugri Atanga, the Upper East Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf, said West Africa was not immune to conflict, political instability, climate shocks and socio-economic challenges, which forced many to flee their homes.
He said Ghana, in its long tradition of peace and hospitality, continued to offer refuge and solidarity to those in need, but noted that the nation could not do it alone.
“ECOWAS stands with us, not only in words, but in tangible support through this project aimed at strengthening capacities, improving service delivery, and ensuring that no one is left out,” he said.
The Minister noted that the launch was not just a ceremonial event, but a solemn reminder of their shared duty as government, regional institutions and development partners to uphold the rights, dignity and humanity of all people, regardless of their status, origin or circumstance.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Lydia Kukua Asamoah