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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has revealed that 1,455 Ghanaians remain stranded in Burkina Faso following the Gbinyiri conflict, though the number has significantly dropped from the 2,500 peak recorded at the height of the clashes.
Mr Ablakwa made the disclosure during the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, where he highlighted the government’s ongoing diplomatic and humanitarian efforts to support citizens affected by the violence.
“I have also engaged my Burkinabe counterpart, His Excellency Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, on the welfare of our displaced compatriots, who are about 1,455, a reduction from the tally of 2,500 refugees during the peak of the conflict,” Mr. Ablakwa said.
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According to the minister, the government is working closely with Burkina Faso’s leadership to ensure that the refugees are cared for until conditions allow them to safely return home.
The announcement follows an earlier update that 8,000 Ghanaians have returned from Côte d’Ivoire, while 5,309 remain in temporary camps there. Both Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso became destinations for fleeing residents after violence erupted in Gbinyiri over a protracted land dispute.
To boost humanitarian assistance, Mr Ablakwa delivered a CFA 6 million donation on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, aimed at covering urgent needs such as food, water, and shelter, as well as logistics for voluntary return.
The Foreign Affairs Minister also carried a message of peace and reconciliation from President Mahama to the displaced, urging them to consider returning home as security has been reinforced in Gbinyiri and its surrounding communities.
The Gbinyiri clashes left deaths, widespread destruction, and the displacement of thousands, mainly women and children. While many have returned, others remain wary, highlighting the delicate balance between government assurances of stability and citizens’ fears of renewed violence.
Mr Ablakwa reaffirmed that the government remains committed to peacebuilding, mediation, and reintegration, stressing that no Ghanaian will be abandoned in the wake of the crisis.
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