The Australian High Commission in Ghana has rehabilitated and handed over the Krisan Refugee camp located in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region near the Ghana-Ivory Coast border town of Elubo to the government.It followed an appeal made to the commission by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to support rehabilitation works at the camp which is home to over 1,000 refugees from about 14 nationalities.Set up in 1996, the camp is one of four refugee settlements dotted across the country which was in deplorable state posing discomfort to occupants.The Deputy Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ms Penny Dennis, handed over the facility at a brief ceremony that was attended by representatives of the Australian High Commission in Ghana, the Ghana Refugee Board (GRB), UNHCR, and refugees.In an address, Ms Dennis said the decision to renovate 30 shelters at the centre was made possible through the Australia Direct Aid Programme."Each year, the Australian High Commission supports some development projects; the Krisan Shelters' Rehabilitation is one of nine projects supported by the High Commission in Ghana.The collaboration between the High Commission, UNHCR, and the Government of Ghana through the Ghana Refugee Board (GRB) emphasises our commitment to promoting social inclusion and improving services to the most vulnerable in communities all over the world," she stated.The UNHCR's Head of Office, Mrs Needa Jehu-Mazou commended the commission for the gesture, expressing hope that the relationship was extended to addressing other pressing social issues in the country."In the face of recent funding challenges, we thank the Australian High Commission in Ghana for its commitment and support towards the refugee cause.We know that not only does the Government of Australia prioritise refugees, but it also creates an enabling environment for its private citizens and business to support refugees.
We hope that going forward, we can entrench such support in Ghana," she said.Corroborating the funding challenge and its effects on humanitarian efforts around the world, the executive secretary of the GRB, Mr Tetteh Padi appealed to development partners and other donors to prioritise support to refugees in Ghana who formed part of the most vulnerable in society."We have always talked about burden sharing.
That is even more critical now," he appealed.For his part, the chairman of the Refugee Unified Welfare Council, Mr Azaine Musa Walid appealed; "As refugees, we were forced to flee our homes, and life in the Krisan Refugee Settlement has been challenging.""We humbly request that the Australian Government considers reopening pathways for refugees to Australia, which will provide us with education and employment opportunities," he pleaded. BY TIMES REPORTER
