The leader of Ghanaian refugees in Vonkoro and other surrounding villages in Côte d’Ivoire’s Bouna Region, Kawuro Kwasi David, has stressed that they will only return home once they receive clear assurances of safety from both the Yagbonwura and President John Dramani Mahama.
Responding to Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s call for their return, Kawuro David said the refugees remain uncertain about the security situation in their communities.
“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 stated.
“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.
“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 further explained.
The Gbinyiri conflict in the Savannah Region displaced thousands, leaving scores dead and forcing an estimated 13,000 people into Côte d’Ivoire, with others fleeing to Burkina Faso.
On Thursday, September 18, 2025, a Minority delegation from the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, led by Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, visited the refugees in Vonkoro to ascertain their living conditions, verify claims of return, and express solidarity with the displaced citizens.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
