Ghana

Year-end Overview

Plan Overview

Working environment

The protection environment in Ghana is expected to remain favourable in 2020. General elections are scheduled for 2020. While the results of the elections may impact the protection space of people of concern, there may be positive economic opportunities for refugees and IDPs as the current government will give full speed to its economic and social agenda in its final two years, which may include advocacy for the inclusion of people of concern.
 
The UNSDP 2018–2022 sets out strategic priorities for partnership between the UN and the Government of Ghana. UNSDP includes refugees and migrants under the “vulnerable categories”. In 2020, UNHCR will continue its engagement with the SDGs to ensure people of concern are included in the various relevant strategies.
 
On the humanitarian front, UNHCR continues to participate in the Inter-Agency Working Group on Emergencies, including internal displacement issues arising from recurrent chieftaincy/land disputes in the north of Ghana.
 
A local integration policy framework with the Government of Ghana is under discussion. A long-term residency (for five years) is likely to be provided prior to indefinite residence permits, subject to approval by the Minister of Interior. 
 
UNHCR will also continue to promote voluntary repatriation which started in early 2019. 1,000 Ivorians are planned to repatriate in 2019, and a further 1,350 in 2020. Discussions with the Government will take place on the remaining Ivorians who do not wish to return.
 

Key priorities

The operation continues with the implementation of the 2017-2021 multi-year, multi-partner protection and solutions strategy. While some aspects of this strategy have progressed, others are still pending approval from the Government of Ghana. Particularly, local integration options for protracted refugee groups. Refugees’ access to basic services such as health, education and security is at par with Ghanaians.
 
In line with the MYMP, in 2020 UNHCR will focus on:

• Increasing refugees’ access to durable solutions;
• Ensuring an effective and equal access to social protection, justice and security;
• Strengthening livelihoods assets and increasing self-reliance to allow effective integration;
• Advocating adequate legal and policy framework to be put in place for the eradication of statelessness;
• Maintaining and improving the quality, fairness, and efficiency of the asylum system, while working towards reducing the RSD backlog;
• Enhancing prevention aspects of the strategy to address mixed movements, in partnership with IOM and the UNCT.