UN Refugee Agency Condemns Reported Expulsion Of Burkinabes In Ghana

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has condemned the reported expulsion of refugees from conflict-battered Burkina Faso by Ghana as a violation of the non-refoulement principle.

Non-refoulement is a fundamental principle enshrined in international law, which prohibits the return of an asylum seeker or a refugee to countries where his life or freedom would be threatened.

The UN Agency in a statement said it was concerned by the reports and called on Ghana to cease the expulsion as it stands ready to support the government in catering for the refugees.

“The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is concerned by the reports about deportations of hundreds of Burkinabe citizens, mainly women and children, who sought safety and protection in Ghana.”

“UNHCR calls on the Government of Ghana to cease these expulsions, which amount to a violation of the non-refoulement principle, and guarantee access to the territory and asylum to nationals of Burkina Faso seeking international protection.”

“Ghana has a longstanding history of upholding its international obligations towards refugees, and UNHCR stands ready to support the Government to address the needs of Burkinabe nationals fleeing the ongoing conflict.”

APA reports that verified video footage showed women, children and men, clearly from the Peulh community, sitting under tin sheds in front of minibuses, ready to be repatriated from Ghana.

Another report by a Ghanaian journalist the news agency cited said “Soldiers raided town centres, markets and camps in search of Burkinabe nationals to arrest.”

The soldiers then carried out checks, after which a large number of Burkina Faso nationals were taken in minibuses to a centre where they would be deported to their country of origin, APA added per the account of the journalist.

Meanwhile, UNHCR says it has been collaborating with the Government of Ghana to support its efforts to ensure the protection of over 8,000 Burkinabe nationals who sought protection on its territory as a result of the ongoing conflict in their country of origin.

“In the framework of this cooperation, a Reception Centre managed jointly by the Ghana Refugee Board and UNHCR with a capacity of 4,000 individuals has been inaugurated in the Upper East Region to relocate Burkinabe refugees away from the border for security reasons.”