Refugee Day at Aflao

Aflao, (V/R) June 17, GNA - The Paramount Chief of the Aflao Traditional Area, Togbe Amenya Fiti V, has asked the UNCHR never to relent in making food, a crucial commodity, available for refugees in his area every time.

Addressing the UN Refugee Day at Aflao on Saturday, he noted that the absence of food could compound the refugee problem and lead them, particularly the females and children into other protracted problems. Togbe Fiti said the plight of Togolese refugees in the Aflao area constitute a psychological pain to the traditional authorities, and hoped the international community would work harder to ensure a speedy restoration of peace in Togo and other conflict zones in West Africa and the entire world. He said the Togolese problem is of greater concern to him as his area bears the greatest brunt of the resultant spillovers. Togbe Fiti advised the refugees to take their new dwelling places as their home and remain law abiding and to keep the environment clean.

Ms. Aida Haile Mariam, UNCHR Representative in Ghana, giving the message of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres for the day, called on the international community to join hands in giving new hopes for all displaced people in the world. She said the UNHCR and its partners, has the past 55 years assisted 50 million displaced people to re-start their lives.

Mr. Anicet Ndayesaba, Volta Regional UNHCR Field Officer, noted that humanity needed to get extra concerned with the torture, killings, displacement, hunger and deprivations being suffered by millions in the world and fight against the causes for a just society for all. A number of Togolese refugees, including Madam Julean Kofi, interviewed by the GNA said they would not go back to their country now in view of what they described as discreet torturing and killing of targeted people in the country by Government loyalists.

The UNHCR said 59,034 refugees are in Ghana now, of which 10,000, mainly Togolese, are in the Volta Region, scattered in Ho, Hohoe, Kadjeibi, Jasikan and Aflao.