Hot SourceGhanaian refugees displaced by conflict in the Savannah Region say they will only return home after receiving firm guarantees of safety from both their traditional leader, the Yagbonwura, and President John Dramani Mahama.
Speaking to a parliamentary delegation in Vonkoro, in Côte d’Ivoire’s Bouna Region, the refugees’ leader, Kawuro Kwasi David, made it clear that assurances from key authorities are non-negotiable.
“We want to return home, but we cannot do so without being assured of our safety. If our King, Yagbonwura Bikunuto Jewu Soale I, as well as President Mahama assure us of our safety, we shall return home,” he said.
He stressed that the community remains uncertain about conditions back in Ghana.
“We cannot tell if peace has prevailed now and if it will continue to be so. We cannot just wake up and leave here for our homes in Ghana when we are not sure our safety is guaranteed,” he added.
David underscored the pivotal role of the traditional ruler in restoring confidence.
“The Yagbonwura is our father. If he tells us, ‘my children, return home, for nothing will happen to you upon your return,’ we shall not hesitate to return home. The President must also assure us of adequate security if we return, and these are the only reasons for us to go back,” he explained.
The refugees fled brutal clashes in Ghana’s Savannah Region, where scores lost their lives and thousands were forced to escape. Roughly 13,000 people crossed into Côte d’Ivoire, while others sought safety in neighbouring Burkina Faso.
To assess the situation firsthand, the Minority side of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee dispatched a team led by Nana Asafo-Adjei-Ayeh. The delegation, which included three other members, visited Vonkoro and nearby settlements on Thursday, 18 September 2025, to verify the number of displaced persons, identify those who may have returned, and evaluate their living conditions.
Despite calls from Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for citizens to come back, the refugees remain steadfast: without explicit assurances from the Yagbonwura and President Mahama, their journey home will have to wait.
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