Refugee-Host Interaction in the Krisan Refugee Settlement in Ghana

Abstract

The limited opportunities available for refugees to resettle in a third country, the reluctance of refugees to voluntarily repatriate to place of origin and the unwillingness of some host countries to encourage the integration of refugees have led to protracted refugee situations, especially in developing countries. This paper assesses factors likely to influence the integration of refugees at a camp near Krisan in the Western Region of Ghana within the
context of refugee-host interaction. Quantitative data were collected from 180 people from the host population and 180 refugees and in-depth interviews were held with opinion leaders, representatives of UNHCR and partners. The paper argues that the integration of refugees depends on the tolerance of host communities to infractions and the preparedness of the refugees to operate within the accep table norms of the community. Where the
activities of refugees threaten the systems of the host population, peaceful coexistence is likely to be problematic. At Krisan, the host population has tolerated and accommodated the refugees to some extent, but there have been misunderstandings on issues such as use of forest resources. To ensure peaceful co-existence in areas such as Krisan, there is the need for periodic platforms for stakeholders to interact and address potential conflict areas.

Keywords: Krisan, Refugee Settlement, refugee-host interaction, local integration, peaceful co-existence