Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ACCRA2241
2004-11-16 07:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Accra
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ACCRA 002241
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM IV GH
SUBJECT: REFUGEE SITUATION IN GHANA
REF: STATE 241606
UNCLAS ACCRA 002241
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM IV GH
SUBJECT: REFUGEE SITUATION IN GHANA
REF: STATE 241606
1. Per reftel, Emboff met with the head of the political
department at MFA. GOG officials assured him that Ghana
would not object if there were to be a flood of Ivorian
refugees entering Ghana. Large numbers could cause
logistical problems, but the Ministry of the Interior (MOI)
had the lead on this issue. In a separate conversation, an
official at the MOI said that Ghana would maintain its "open
door" policy toward refugees. The MOI had already
identified three potential sites near the Ivorian border
that could be used to house large numbers of refugees
temporarily.
2. Partly to assess the situation near the border, Ref
Coord visited the Krisan refugee camp, located 30 miles east
of the Ivorian frontier, on November 9. At that point there
had been no new admissions of Ivorian refugees. Thanks to
active U.S. and Australian resettlement programs, total
refugee population there had declined from a peak of 3,800
to less than 1,000, including 500 Togolese, 300 Liberians,
180 Sudanese, and a smattering of seven other nationalities,
none of them numbering more than 35. There was no longer
any full-time NGO presence at the camp, although a UN
volunteer continued to provide medical services at the
clinic.
3. UNHCR Resettlement Officer Peter Trotter told Ref Coord
today that 14 busloads of third country nationals had
entered Ghana from Cote d'Ivoire over the past week. Mainly
Malians and Burkinabes, the passengers were all expected to
proceed to their countries of origin to wait out the
cessation of hostilities. Ironically, somewhere between
1,500 and 5,000 Ivorians had fled into Nimba County,
Liberia, where many Liberians who had formerly taken refuge
in Cote d'Ivoire now resided. Trotter confirmed that UNHCR
had worked with the GOG on a contingency plan, but noted
that in 2001 they had planned for up to 120,000 Ivorian
refugees; the actual number of arrivals ended up being only
120.
4. Post will continue to keep addressees apprised of any
significant movement of refugees.
YATES
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM IV GH
SUBJECT: REFUGEE SITUATION IN GHANA
REF: STATE 241606
1. Per reftel, Emboff met with the head of the political
department at MFA. GOG officials assured him that Ghana
would not object if there were to be a flood of Ivorian
refugees entering Ghana. Large numbers could cause
logistical problems, but the Ministry of the Interior (MOI)
had the lead on this issue. In a separate conversation, an
official at the MOI said that Ghana would maintain its "open
door" policy toward refugees. The MOI had already
identified three potential sites near the Ivorian border
that could be used to house large numbers of refugees
temporarily.
2. Partly to assess the situation near the border, Ref
Coord visited the Krisan refugee camp, located 30 miles east
of the Ivorian frontier, on November 9. At that point there
had been no new admissions of Ivorian refugees. Thanks to
active U.S. and Australian resettlement programs, total
refugee population there had declined from a peak of 3,800
to less than 1,000, including 500 Togolese, 300 Liberians,
180 Sudanese, and a smattering of seven other nationalities,
none of them numbering more than 35. There was no longer
any full-time NGO presence at the camp, although a UN
volunteer continued to provide medical services at the
clinic.
3. UNHCR Resettlement Officer Peter Trotter told Ref Coord
today that 14 busloads of third country nationals had
entered Ghana from Cote d'Ivoire over the past week. Mainly
Malians and Burkinabes, the passengers were all expected to
proceed to their countries of origin to wait out the
cessation of hostilities. Ironically, somewhere between
1,500 and 5,000 Ivorians had fled into Nimba County,
Liberia, where many Liberians who had formerly taken refuge
in Cote d'Ivoire now resided. Trotter confirmed that UNHCR
had worked with the GOG on a contingency plan, but noted
that in 2001 they had planned for up to 120,000 Ivorian
refugees; the actual number of arrivals ended up being only
120.
4. Post will continue to keep addressees apprised of any
significant movement of refugees.
YATES