July 14 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Government of Ghana has denied that it is forcibly expelling refugees from Burkina Faso and has stated that the procedures are being carried out in line with international law, after the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) demanded from the authorities an end to forced returns at the border.
The Ministry of National Security has indicated in a statement that it “rejects” reports of “a deliberate operation (…) led by the Ghanaian Armed Forces to forcibly repatriate Burkinabe refugees from Ghana.”
“Ghana is committed to accommodating Burkinabe nationals who have been displaced to the Upper East and Upper West regions of Ghana due to the existing security situation in southern Burkina Faso,” he said.
Thus, he has indicated that these repatriations have been carried out in collaboration with the Burkinabe immigration authorities and has added that he has collaborated with UNHCR to create a provisional center in the Alto Norte region that could accommodate 2,100 refugees.
“At the moment there are 530 displaced Burkinabés housed in this reception center. The Ghanaian official entities guarantee that the displaced have access to free food and medical attention,” he asserted, before stressing that “the repatriation process is consistent with the international protocols”.
Likewise, he has emphasized his determination when it comes to “safeguarding peace, stability and territorial integrity” and has stated that “he will continue to adopt the necessary measures without compromising values, including respect for Human Rights”, according to the Ghanaian state news agency, GNA, has reported.
The UNHCR assured on Wednesday that these deportations constitute a violation of the principle of International Law and the principle of non-refoulement, while asking the Government to guarantee “access” and “asylum” to the citizens of Burkina Faso who seek “international protection “.
“Non-refoulement is a fundamental principle enshrined in international law, which prohibits returning an asylum seeker or refugee to countries where their life or liberty would be threatened,” said UNHCR regional spokesperson for West and Central Africa, Alpha Seydi Ba, before specifying that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, has been collaborating with the Government of Ghana to “support their efforts to protect more than 8,000 Burkinabe who have fled the current conflict in their country”. .
Numerous NGOs have denounced that the Burkina Faso Army has constantly violated Human Rights against civilians in the framework of anti-terrorist operations against groups linked to the Islamic State and Al Qaeda. The continuous attacks by these terrorist groups have led to a deterioration in security in the country, which has caused a wave of internally displaced persons and refugees to other countries in the region.
