Conflict & Violence; Migration & immigration
Conflict and violence
article oneGhana’s President Kufuor has demanded an immediate end to a conflict between two ethnic groups in the north of the country that has claimed at least 17 lives in the last week and which observers warn could jeopardize presidential elections later this year.
“Citizens of Ghana are being axed savagely and monies we need for development are going down the drain,” President Kufuor said in an emergency meeting with traditional leaders and members of parliament from the northeastern town Bawku. Bawku, which has a predominantly Muslim population of 206,000, has been under a dusk to dawn curfew since January when several days of violence starting on New Year’s Day led to four deaths and large parts of the town being burned. Further clashes between the Mamprusi and Kusasi in March left two more dead. Kufuor said the local officials should be “ashamed” of the events in Bawku where 17 people have been murdered in a new spat between the Mamprusi and Kusasi ethnic groups in the last week that locals say started in a dispute over the theft of a horse. Bawku has a long history as a flashpoint town in Ghana. In 2001 at least 28 people were killed there when factions clashed in another battle apparently sparked by a relatively small crime, the destruction of a small shop. However with general elections just six months away there are fears volatility could trigger widespread violence in the run-up to polls. The executive secretary of the West African Network for Peace Building (WANEP), Emmanuel Bombandey, said: “Political undertones of the conflict could exacerbate the bloodshed unless a solution is found now.” The international human rights group Amnesty International has expressed concern about the lack of political will to solve the crisis. The group said in a statement that the failure to resolve the conflict stems from a “game of hurt no one in order to win all votes”. President Kufuor has held two separate rounds of talks with leaders of the two rival ethnic factions this year. Ghana’s electoral commission told IRIN a meeting with all the country’s political parties has been fixed for next month to discuss the situation and its implications on the elections. “If we allow things to get out of hand then we are holding the whole of Ghana to ransom,” Kufuor said on 26 June at the meeting with local officials. “The entire nation could be engulfed and we will no longer be able to show the outside world a positive image,” he warned. Northern Ghana is riddled with conflicts over ethnicity as well as over who has rights to assume certain chieftaincies - local government positions. There are over 40 ethnic groups in the country. In 2007, six people, including a policeman, died in a chieftaincy conflict in the Volta Region in the east. |
article twoU.S. Embassy Ghana advises U.S. citizens of a potential increase in political tensions and the possibility of isolated violence associated with the anticipated August 29 announcement of the Ghanaian Supreme Court’s decision on the legal challenge to Ghana’s election results.
U.S. citizens in Ghana are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security/safety awareness during this politically-sensitive period. U.S. citizens in Ghana should avoid the offices of political parties, Ghana’s Supreme Court, the buildings of other institutions associated with the elections, and all political rallies. We recommend that U.S. citizens in Ghana monitor the local news and avoid all demonstrations, as even those intended to be peaceful may suddenly turn violent. You can stay in touch and get Embassy updates by checking the U.S. Embassy Ghana web site. You can also get global updates at the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs website where you can find the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information. Follow us on Twitter and on the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well, or you can download our free Smart Traveler App, available through iTunes, and the Google Play store, to have travel information at your fingertips. If you don't have internet access, current information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or, for callers from other countries, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). If you are going to live in or travel to Ghana please take the time to tell us about your trip by enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). If you enroll, we can keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements. It will also help your friends and family get in touch with you in an emergency. You should remember to keep all of your information in STEP up to date. It is important during enrollment or updating of information to include your current phone number and current email address where you can be reached in case of an emergency. |
The ark foundation
The Ark Foundation, Ghana, is just baby among human rights NGOs focusing on protection of women and children in Ghana. But like most healthy, gusty babies it has demonstrated beyond a shadow of doubt that it can yell!
The women's movement in Ghana has in recent times been faced with many challenges - whatever there is of it, and The Ark has not been left out of the exciting and sometimes disturbing challenges.
It has been a visible and active player, contributing and participating in various causes affecting women and child rights, such as the passage of legislation harmonizing child rights and law, formation of networks and coalitions like Sisters' Keepers and Network for Women's Rights, and generally making a "nuisance" of ourselves on Capital and Community radio stations.
But being a "nuisance," as some of our friends describe us, seems to be paying off somewhat. Government is making appropriate noises about ensuring gender equality, more organizations are getting interested in providing services for women and child victims of violence, and more young women are gearing up to become major players on the women's leadership and advocacy front.
We have to acknowledge the untiring efforts of sister organizations like the Women's Initiative for Self Empowerment (WISE), FIDA (GH), the Gender Centre, Abantu, LAWA, NGO Coalition on the Rights of the Child, Central Aid and several others who have been a big part of these exciting times and have contributed to what we are today.
Our development partners, CIDA, The Norway Human Rights Fund, The United States Embassy in Ghana, ACTIONAID, WDP-German Committee, African Women's Development Fund (AWDF), and the British High Commission HRPF Fund, deserve mention here. What on earth will we do without their support?
The Ark is not finished yet. We are counting on you to urge us on to do greater works as we tackle higher grounds in the years ahead. We plan to strengthen our Program of support services to survivors of gender violence and make an impact in our communities. We also hope to add on to the numerous young women that we are training to take up issues of women's rights, leadership and advocacy at every level. It is a big task but it is doable. We plan to reach more children under our Schools Project on Child Rights and Prevention of Child Abuse. And we hope you care to join us.
The women's movement in Ghana has in recent times been faced with many challenges - whatever there is of it, and The Ark has not been left out of the exciting and sometimes disturbing challenges.
It has been a visible and active player, contributing and participating in various causes affecting women and child rights, such as the passage of legislation harmonizing child rights and law, formation of networks and coalitions like Sisters' Keepers and Network for Women's Rights, and generally making a "nuisance" of ourselves on Capital and Community radio stations.
But being a "nuisance," as some of our friends describe us, seems to be paying off somewhat. Government is making appropriate noises about ensuring gender equality, more organizations are getting interested in providing services for women and child victims of violence, and more young women are gearing up to become major players on the women's leadership and advocacy front.
We have to acknowledge the untiring efforts of sister organizations like the Women's Initiative for Self Empowerment (WISE), FIDA (GH), the Gender Centre, Abantu, LAWA, NGO Coalition on the Rights of the Child, Central Aid and several others who have been a big part of these exciting times and have contributed to what we are today.
Our development partners, CIDA, The Norway Human Rights Fund, The United States Embassy in Ghana, ACTIONAID, WDP-German Committee, African Women's Development Fund (AWDF), and the British High Commission HRPF Fund, deserve mention here. What on earth will we do without their support?
The Ark is not finished yet. We are counting on you to urge us on to do greater works as we tackle higher grounds in the years ahead. We plan to strengthen our Program of support services to survivors of gender violence and make an impact in our communities. We also hope to add on to the numerous young women that we are training to take up issues of women's rights, leadership and advocacy at every level. It is a big task but it is doable. We plan to reach more children under our Schools Project on Child Rights and Prevention of Child Abuse. And we hope you care to join us.
Video of the ark foundation and those they rescue
Migration and immigration
Article oneThe pages of Ghana's international migration story are filled with contrasts. According to the country's 2000 census, the population of 19 million is composed of a mosaic of ethnic groups, virtually all of whom claim to have migrated to Ghana from other regions of Africa.
The Castle of St. George d'Elmina and other infamous abodes of the "doors of no return" mark the paths of slaves destined for the Americas. The current Ghanaian government has swung these "doors" back open, hoping to persuade American and Caribbean descendents of the slave trade to live in Ghana. Meanwhile, Ghanaian citizens continue to emigrate to North America, Europe, and other parts of Africa. The economic, political, and social woes of the past three decades have created a new diaspora of Ghanaians searching for opportunities elsewhere. As a result, Ghana is often highlighted as a nation struggling with the effects of brain drain. At the same time, however, Ghanaians abroad remitted over US$1 billion in 2004 and have been highlighted as catalysts of small business development in their home country. Also, Ghana has been the source and destination of refugee flows. Ghana's migration story is dynamic and complex, and, as with most African countries, present-day migration trends are deeply rooted in historical antecedents. Full article can be found in the sources. |
article twoEmigration From Ghana
Ghanaian migration has increasingly become extra-regional, since the decline of Nigeria as a major destination for Ghanaian migrants in the 1980s. Although the majority of Ghanaian emigrants (71%) still stay within West Africa, a growing proportion is migrating to a diverse range of countries outside the region (DRC, 2007). According to 2008 Ministry of Foreign Affairs estimates, Ghanaian migrants can be found in more than 33 countries around the world. After West African countries, the most important countries of destination for Ghanaian emigrants are the United States (7.3%) and the United Kingdom (5.9%) (DRC, 2007). Estimates of the Ghanaian emigrant population range from 1.5 million (Twum Baah, 2005) to 3 million (Black et al., 2003). Since the 1990s, skilled migration from Ghana, especially to developed countries in the North, has been accelerating. Ghana has the highest emigration rates for the highly skilled (46%) in Western Africa (OECD, 2005; Docquier and Marfouk, 2005). The medical professions are particularly affected by emigration. It is estimated that more than 56 per cent of doctors and 24 per cent of nurses trained in Ghana are working abroad (Clemens and Pettersson, 2006). The overall skill level of Ghanaian emigrants is relatively high. According to some estimates, 33.8 per cent of emigrants from Ghana living in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries possessed medium skills, while 27.6 per cent had high skills (EU, 2006). Only 3 per cent of Ghanaian emigrants had no skills. Many Ghanaians acquire their skills at foreign universities. The latest available figures suggest that almost 8 per cent of Ghanaian university students studied abroad in 2006. Although this marks a decrease from 2004, when 11.8 per cent of Ghanaian students studied abroad, the proportion of Ghanaians enrolled in foreign universities is still substantial (UNESCO, 2008). Public scholarship programmes may unintentionally encourage this trend by providing support only to students and academic staff that study abroad. While many Ghanaians leave for more far-reaching destinations, many of them also return either temporarily or permanently to Ghana. The proportion of Ghanaians among persons who arrived in Ghana from 2000 to 2007 steadily increased from 18.6 per cent to 34.6 per cent. Of the 1,090,972 Ghanaians who left Ghana from 2000 to 2007, only 153,632 did not return within that period. 14 Migration in Ghana: A Country Profile 2009 Departure statistics show that the majority of resident Ghanaians leave for commercial activities, followed by spouses and child dependents (Quartey, 2006). An important result of growing emigration is the dramatic increase in official remittance flows. The Bank of Ghana estimates that remittances to Ghana increased from USD 476 million in 1999 to USD 1.5 billion in 2005. This trend has been affected by the economic downturn in the developed world. The Bank of Ghana reports a 7.3 per cent decrease in remittances in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008 (USD 1.9 billion). In relation to economically motivated migration, forced migration from Ghana is insignificant and has been declining over the past decade. The number of Ghanaian asylum seekers and recognized refugees under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) protection has decreased from 15,879 in 2003 to only 6,717 in 2007 (UNHCR, 2008). Although emigration has been increasing at a faster rate than immigration since 1990, Ghana continues to be an important country of destination. According to recent census-based estimates, the migrant population, i.e. foreign-born population, still constitutes 7.6 per cent of Ghana’s total population in 2005. Net migration rate (per thousand persons) for 2000-2005 was positive at 0.1 compared to the -0.6 recorded in the previous five-year period (UNPD, 2008). Immigration to Ghana The majority of immigrants to Ghana come from Africa. In 2000, 58.9 per cent of non-Ghanaian residents were nationals from Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries, while 23 per cent of immigrants came from African countries outside ECOWAS. According to border statistics from the Ghana Immigration Services, Europeans constituted the largest group of non-African arrivals (15.3%), followed by North Americans (9.7%), from 2000 to 2007 (GIS, 2008). Students make up a significant proportion of the immigrants to Ghana. In 2007, 8.5 per cent of resident permits were granted to students. Students represented a particularly large proportion among permit holders from ECOWAS countries, almost 25 per cent. The foreign student population at the University of Ghana rose steadily from 1.5 per cent in 2001-02 to 3.8 per cent in 2006-07. While the overall immigrant population has remained relatively stable over the last two decades, the number of asylum seekers and refugees has dramatically increased, from 11,721 in 2001 to 34,950 in 2007. In 2007, Ghana hosted the Migration in Ghana: A Country Profile 2009 15 largest refugee population in the West African sub-region. Representing 77.3 per cent of the total refugee population in Ghana, Liberians accounted for much of the increase in the number of refugees in Ghana. According to UNHCR (2008), 40 per cent of the refugees from Liberia and Togo were minors (persons under 18 years old). In 2008, Ghana received fewer asylum seeker and refugees (18,206), but the country remains host to the fourth-largest population of asylum seekers and refugees in the region. |
Respect ghana
RESPECT Ghana is an affiliate of RESPECT International. In line with the stated goals of RESPECT International, RESPECT Ghana is also poised to fully serve as the link between the international community and the refugee community in Ghana.
RESPECT Ghana has a team of volunteers currently running the affairs of the organization. Their unlimited support and devotion is pushing the organization so high that in some few years to come, RESPECT Ghana would be a major force to reckon with when it comes to raising awareness on refugee issues in Ghana. These groups of volunteers have contributed in several diverse ways to ensuring that all the stated goals and aims are worked at with much precision.
RESPECT Ghana also has some volunteer experts who are contributing their ideas as to how programs and activities could be initiated to raise general awareness about refugee issues, to bridge the gap between students in developed worlds and refugee students as well as liaise with international affiliates to see how best refugees could be assisted. RESPECT Ghana has also outlined a number of future programs and plans as well as its readiness to offer its rich human resource to work in partnership with any organization that seeks to be interested in refugee issues and matters relating to human rights and global peace.
RESPECT Ghana has a team of volunteers currently running the affairs of the organization. Their unlimited support and devotion is pushing the organization so high that in some few years to come, RESPECT Ghana would be a major force to reckon with when it comes to raising awareness on refugee issues in Ghana. These groups of volunteers have contributed in several diverse ways to ensuring that all the stated goals and aims are worked at with much precision.
RESPECT Ghana also has some volunteer experts who are contributing their ideas as to how programs and activities could be initiated to raise general awareness about refugee issues, to bridge the gap between students in developed worlds and refugee students as well as liaise with international affiliates to see how best refugees could be assisted. RESPECT Ghana has also outlined a number of future programs and plans as well as its readiness to offer its rich human resource to work in partnership with any organization that seeks to be interested in refugee issues and matters relating to human rights and global peace.
A video from respect ghana and the people they assist
CONNECTIONS TO CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHINGS
In regards to conflict and violence in Ghana, it is there and it is reality. The disrespectful treatment of the Ghanaian people amongst themselves is not a respecting the dignity and life of each human person. They are not being seen as equal or being treated as equal in any way when there is domestic violence and conflict going on. This needs to be stopped through help of other nations and organizations so that the themes of Catholic Social Teachings can live on there.
Concerning emigration and immigration, there is not much immigration to Ghana. It is not seen as a very favorable place to live in or go to. There is however a lot of emigration out of it. Unfortunately, a lot of it is force migration. This means that a lot of residents in Ghana are being forced to leave due to violence or conflicts within their area. They are forced to leave even if they are unprepared and many become refugees. They are not being given an option and this is unacceptable. Something needs to be done to stop this.
Concerning emigration and immigration, there is not much immigration to Ghana. It is not seen as a very favorable place to live in or go to. There is however a lot of emigration out of it. Unfortunately, a lot of it is force migration. This means that a lot of residents in Ghana are being forced to leave due to violence or conflicts within their area. They are forced to leave even if they are unprepared and many become refugees. They are not being given an option and this is unacceptable. Something needs to be done to stop this.
Sources
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opportunities-home-and-abroad>.
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<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNn0w6HdQmk>.