GHANA has warned that the growing number of refugees fleeing conflicts in the Sahel could place additional pressure on its already vulnerable northern communities.
It has, therefore, called for stronger regional action to address the potential humanitarian and development challenges.
More than 32,000 forcibly displaced persons were residing in Ghana as of October 2025, with many of them in the Upper East and Upper West regions, the Deputy Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mrs Rita Odoley Sowah, has said.
She said projections by the World Bank indicated that the figure could rise to 50,000 within the next five years if the current trend continued.
Mrs Sowah made this known at a two-day Regional Symposium on Refugee Integration in Africa, which ended in Cotonou, Benin, on Tuesday.
The symposium, organised by the Government of Benin with support from the World Bank, was held on the theme: “What Actions for the Harmonious Integration of Refugees in Africa?”
It brought together representatives from Ghana, Benin, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire, as well as development partners, humanitarian organisations, researchers and other stakeholders, to deliberate on strategies for protecting refugees and supporting communities hosting them.
Mrs Sowah said the increasing displacement of people as a result of armed conflicts, insecurity and violent extremism in the Sahel, particularly in Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, presented a serious test of the countries’ commitment to coexistence.
She said the situation was particularly concerning because host communities were already grappling with poverty, unemployment, the effects of climate change and inadequate access to basic services.
“Our response must be guided by both compassion and pragmatism. Refugees deserve protection and dignity, and host communities deserve the investments and support necessary to continue thriving,” she said.
Mrs Sowah stressed the need to protect the fundamental rights of displaced persons and ensure that vulnerable groups, particularly women, children and persons with disabilities, were not left behind.
She reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to working with neighbouring countries, the World Bank, development partners and other stakeholders to promote peaceful coexistence, shared prosperity and inclusive development.
The symposium also examined the causes of forced displacement, refugee rights and protection, access to basic services, livelihood opportunities and ways of strengthening cooperation among governments and development partners.
Participants noted that the arrival of refugees increased demand for essential services, including water, healthcare, education, housing and employment, putting additional pressure on communities already struggling to meet the needs of their populations.
FROM YAHAYA NUHU NADAA, COTONOU, BENIN
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