The Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, has commended residents of the region, and that matter Ghanaians for the hospitality they have shown to some Burkinabes seeking asylum in the region.
The Upper East Region recorded an influx of at least 4000 Burkinabes from communities such as Bugri, Zabre, and Zoago in Burkina Faso who flew to Ghana following terrorist attacks suspected to have been masterminded by some jihadists.
Mr. Yakubu said the asylum seekers, mainly women, and children are residing in communities in the Bawku West, and Bongo districts as well as the Bawku municipality.
The regional minister who was speaking to the media said the displaced Burkinabes were accepted in communities in the region because of the hospitality of Ghanaians.
“They were actually accepted. Not only individuals, but some of the chiefs were ready to give them farmlands for them to farm, which is very grateful. And this talks about Ghanaian hospitality and how people were ready to share the little that they had with them.”
He added that some development partners such as Unicef, and IOM also drilled boreholes and provided tents for the migrants.
The minister said government did not ask for a lot of help because “Ghanaians accepted, provided accommodation, food, and clothes for the displaced migrants”.
Mr. Yakubu however refuted suggestions that the generosity shown towards the Burkinabes was an indication that government reneged on its responsibility.
“Government is not running away at all. As a Regional Minister and Head of REGSEC, we visited all the areas with NADMO and with all that we had for them. Whatever that government will do to supplement what community members in Ghana are doing. We are making sure that in terms of health, education, and security are provided. But the good thing is that as things get better in Burkina Faso, these displaced people immediately go back. For now, probably we have about half of the number we had”, he added.
Mr. Yakubu said the displaced Burkinabes were documented to ensure that their movement does not pose a threat to other indigenes.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Ghana
