Residents of the Soogo Electoral Area in the Upper East Region’s Bawku West District are pleading with the government and well-meaning organisations and people for assistance. The support would go toward providing food, shelter, and clothing for refugees who have fled their native Burkina Faso and are looking for asylum in Ghana.
When the Assemblyman for the area, Osben Asaki spoke to Mark Smith on the Day Break Upper East Show today, Monday, January 23, 2022, he mentioned that over 800 men, women and children have moved to temporarily reside in the area. It has been difficult for the locals to find the resources needed to meet these asylum seekers’ concerns.
“In my electoral area, the numbers that we have are 845. Majority of them are women and children. Almost everybody is fed by their relatives. Since they run into the houses, they [the locals] would ensure that they eat in the morning, afternoon and evening. They have to ensure that they bathe and get everything that they [asylum seekers] need.”
“It is a serious issue. I remember the community members had to contribute food and other materials and even money, in support of them. We need support from the government, the assembly and anybody that is willing to come to the aid of the community. When they [the asylum seekers] came, they had to drain the houses they came to stay in; particularly foodstuffs. I do not think they would be able to take care of their families until the rainy season. A house is hosting about 35 or 45 or 50 refugees, I think it is not easy,” he said.
The situation is no different from the situation in Widnaba, also in the Bawku West District.
More than 1,700 persons from Burkina Faso have fled the troubled country and are currently taking up residence in the homes of persons living in the Widnaba Electoral Area of the Bawku West District in the Upper East Region.
The presence of the refugees, according to Elisha Abila, the Assemblyman for Widnaba Electoral Area, is causing a strain on the financial situation of community residents.
He said this when he spoke to Mark Smith on the Day Break Upper East Show today, Monday, January 23, 2023.
“The whole thing happened in Burkina Faso. The jihadists gave the threats to the community members. So those threats made the people, the women and children, including some of the men pack their things, and they started trooping into our community.”
“Some [of the refugees] went to Soogo. Others went to Sapeliga, but the nearest place was Widnaba. When you come here, you would see that really, there are foreigners here. Most of the houses are hosting at least 5 or more people,” he said.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
