Nearly 8,000 Ghanaian refugees who fled to neighbouring Ivory Coast during the Gbinyiri crisis have safely returned home, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
The returns mark a significant step toward restoring normalcy after violent clashes in the Savannah Region left many displaced and seeking refuge across Ghana’s borders with Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso.
Updating the nation at the Government Accountability Series in Accra, Mr. Ablakwa said a recent census revealed that of the 13,253 Ghanaians who originally crossed into the Ivory Coast, 8,000 have already come back, leaving 5,309 still in Ivorian territory. In Burkina Faso, the number of Ghanaian refugees has also dropped from 2,500 at the peak of the conflict to 1,455.
The Minister, who personally visited the affected communities in Ivory Coast’s Bounkani Region last week, said the returnees were eager to reunite with their families after months of hardship. He carried with him a peace message from President John Dramani Mahama, urging Ghanaians to embrace forgiveness and reconciliation.
“As I met our displaced compatriots, I assured them of government’s commitment to their safety and dignity,” Mr. Ablakwa said. “On behalf of President Mahama, I donated 6 million CFA to help cover urgent humanitarian needs and support logistical arrangements for their journey back home.”
He noted that food, blankets, medicines, and other essentials had also been provided through the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) to support the resettlement process.
For many refugees, the return home is both a relief and a fresh beginning. Some had endured months of uncertainty in makeshift camps, while others had been separated from loved ones across the border. With government security restored in Gbinyiri and surrounding areas, families are hopeful that peace will last.
Mr. Ablakwa thanked the governments and people of Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso for offering shelter to Ghanaians during their displacement, saying their solidarity reflected the spirit of African brotherhood.
He assured that the Foreign Ministry, in collaboration with security agencies, would continue to monitor conditions in the affected areas to prevent a recurrence and to ensure that the remaining refugees can return safely.
“No Ghanaian in distress will ever be abandoned,” the Minister stressed.
