Ghana has received 172 asylum seekers from Côte d’Ivoire in the past two weeks, amid rising political tensions ahead of the country’s October presidential election, the Ghana Refugee Board has confirmed.
The Ivorians, who say they fear potential unrest, are currently being housed at the Ampain Refugee Camp in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.
“We have some Ivorians who have come into the country to seek asylum based on the fact that they predict or believe there is tension leading up to the presidential election,” said Tetteh Padi, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Refugee Board.
According to Padi, the refugees have been registered and provided shelter, though food aid is yet to be supplied. He noted that the arrivals increased last week compared to the previous one.
The influx follows President Alassane Ouattara’s controversial decision to seek a fourth term in office, a move widely criticised by opposition groups and civil society. The development has reignited fears of instability, recalling the 2010–2011 post-election crisis in Côte d’Ivoire that left some 3,000 people dead.
Padi expressed hope that the upcoming polls would be peaceful, stressing that many of the asylum seekers would likely return home if stability is restored.
The Ampain Camp, which is one of Ghana’s major refugee facilities, also shelters a smaller number of Sudanese nationals who arrive intermittently.
Source – My News Ghana
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