Following terrorist attacks in some border communities in Burkina Faso, at least 4,000 citizens of that country are seeking refuge in some areas of the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region.
After several homes in the farming communities of Zoago, Bugri, and Zabre in Burkina Faso, including a police station, were attacked by terrorists thought to be jihadists and lives were lost, the refugees fled to Ghana.
As a consequence, many individuals—particularly women and children—have been forced to flee their homes, while others have looked for refuge in other places, like Ghana.
Residents of the border settlements, such as Widnaba, Soogo, Sapeliga, Kansoogo, and Googo in the Bawku West District, as well as Bansi in Bawku, where the majority of the refugees are being housed, are experiencing anxiety and terror as a result of the situation.
In addition, it is straining their budgets and food supplies, and locals have expressed concern about an impending food scarcity in the region in the absence of decisive action.
Although the Bawku District Security Council (DISEC) has increased security along Ghana's border and in some of the host communities with the assistance of the Ghana Immigration Service, the Military, and the Ghana Police Service, the locals have complained that the numerous unapproved routes are a source of worry.
According to Mr. Elisha Afuugu Abilla, the Assemblyman for the Widnaba Electoral Area, where more than 1,773 migrants are being accommodated, the locals are living in dread as a result of the refugees' presence.
The majority of the evacuees, according to him, were women and children who were being housed in houses by certain members of the community while others were living in unfinished structures, businesses, and stores nearby.
He urged increased border patrol vigilance, particularly along the several unauthorized routes in the region.
"Due to our bond, we share all we make with them since, when they were fleeing, they were unable to separate anything from their kids.
But the trouble is that we did not have excellent yields owing to low rainfall and invasion of elephants during the agricultural season and the little that we believed could have got us through to the next season is what we are spending on the refugees which in the long run will harm us,” he added.
Mr Issahaku Tahiru, the District Chief Executive for Bawku West, told the GNA in an interview that more over 4,000 refugees were registered in the district so far as consequence of the recent assaults in Burkina Faso but underlined that DISEC was on top of the situation.
He said security had been tightened up around Ghana’s borders and asked to the populace to stay calm and report any suspicious characters or actions to the security services for action.
“We, at the DISEC level are to guarantee that our borders are adequately policed and that is being done precisely. The Military have taken over, the police have boosted surveillance and the Immigration are busily registering and vetting them to assure we, both in internal and at the border levels are properly secured,” he added.
Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, Paramount Chief of Kusaug Traditional Area, praised Zugraan for providing 104 bags of rice and four bags of maize for the refugees' maintenance.
The DCE further outlined the Assembly's efforts to assist the refugees.
