Several Members of Parliament (MPs) hailing from the Upper East and Upper West Regions have voiced their concerns over the rising influx of refugees from Burkina Faso, a neighboring country, into their electoral districts and the surrounding areas.
These refugees are escaping from the ongoing Jihadist attacks in Burkina Faso, seeking safety and refuge within Ghana’s borders.
However, these legislators are expressing apprehensions that a portion of the Burkinabe refugees who have sought sanctuary in Ghana might be involved in unfavorable activities that could potentially jeopardize the safety of their constituents and the entire nation.
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In response to this pressing situation, three MPs have taken the initiative to address this matter in the Parliament. Albert Akuka Alalzuuga, the MP for Garu, Mohammed Adams Supkparu, who represents Sissala West, and Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, the MP for Tempane, have jointly appealed to the government to promptly take steps to resolve this issue.
The Garu MP indicated that “The influx of people from different backgrounds has the potential of creating cultural and social tension. Apart from the fact that these immigrants are seeking asylum those who came with their livestock are causing threats to these communities, raising concerns about the safety of their crops as we are in the farming season.”
“The disregard for community rules and careless attitude towards the environment is posing serious challenges to these communities where they live. For instance, these communities have forest reserves but since their coming into these communities, refugees have been engaged in indiscriminate cutting of trees and the clearing of forest reserves that can harm severely our forest reserves and the survival of the ecosystem,” he stated.
They are of the opinion that immediate actions are necessary to tackle the difficulties posed by the inflow of refugees and to ensure the security and well-being of their constituents.
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The Jihadist attacks in Burkina Faso have resulted in a humanitarian crisis, compelling numerous innocent civilians to abandon their homes and seek refuge in neighboring nations like Ghana.
The Garu MP indicated that “The influx of people from different backgrounds has the potential of creating cultural and social tension. Apart from the fact that these immigrants are seeking asylum those who came with their livestock are causing threats to these communities, raising concerns about the safety of their crops as we are in the farming season.”
“The disregard for community rules and careless attitude towards the environment is posing serious challenges to these communities where they live. For instance, these communities have forest reserves but since their coming into these communities, refugees have been engaged in indiscriminate cutting of trees and the clearing of forest reserves that can harm severely our forest reserves and the survival of the ecosystem,” he stated.
Mr. Alalzuuga additionally highlighted the lack of suitable shelters for these refugees, which has forced many of them to sleep out in the open. Consequently, he urged the government to establish camps to house these destitute individuals in constituencies bordering Burkina Faso.
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Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, the MP for Tempane, attributed the surge in refugee arrivals from Burkina Faso to an outbreak of Anthrax in the Upper East Region.
