The celebration of World Refugee Day in Accra shifted attention beyond statistics and humanitarian challenges to the remarkable stories of refugees who are rebuilding their lives and contributing meaningfully to Ghanaian society.
As Ghana joined the international community to mark the annual observance, speakers highlighted the importance of moving beyond emergency assistance to creating opportunities that enable refugees to become self-reliant and productive members of their host communities.
One of the most inspiring moments of the event came from former refugee student Daphne Gama, who shared her journey from fleeing political unrest in Togo as a child to becoming a licensed Physician Assistant in Ghana.
Arriving in Ghana with her family in 2005, Gama completed her basic and secondary education before receiving support through the DAFI scholarship programme, which enabled her to pursue higher education at Central University. Today, she serves as a healthcare professional and continues to volunteer in community health education, focusing on menstrual hygiene and breast cancer awareness.
Her story underscored a central message echoed throughout the event that refugees are not merely recipients of aid but individuals with skills, aspirations, and the capacity to contribute to national development when given the opportunity.
Another refugee, Charles, a Cameroonian nurse with more than three decades of professional experience, also reflected on the challenges and opportunities that come with displacement. His experience highlighted the untapped expertise that many refugees bring to their host countries.
Speaking at the event, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Refugee Board, Hon. Nana Asare Bediako, stressed the need to move from aid dependency to economic inclusion through initiatives such as the Ghana Refugee Agro-Business Sustainability Project, which seeks to create jobs and strengthen livelihoods for both refugees and host communities.
Chairman of the Ghana Refugee Board, Hon. Joseph Azumah, urged stakeholders to invest in education, employment, healthcare and entrepreneurship opportunities for refugees, describing them as innovators, professionals and entrepreneurs capable of contributing significantly to economic growth.
Officials from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also noted that despite global funding challenges, investing in refugee inclusion remains one of the most sustainable solutions to displacement.
As the world marks 75 years of the 1951 Refugee Convention, Ghana’s refugee support system is increasingly focusing on empowerment, skills development and economic integration, demonstrating that with the right opportunities, refugees can transform adversity into achievement.
For many participants, the event served as a reminder that behind every refugee statistic is a human story of resilience, hope and determination.
