More than 8,000 Ghanaians who sought refuge in Côte d’Ivoire following the Gbinyiri conflict have now crossed back into Ghana, easing concerns over the fate of those displaced by the violence.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, providing an update at the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, September 15, said a new census conducted in the affected communities shows that 5,309 nationals remain in Côte d’Ivoire, a significant drop from the earlier figure of 13,253.
The clashes, sparked by a protracted land dispute in Gbinyiri, have claimed at least 31 lives and left many others injured. Entire families, mostly women and children, were uprooted, with thousands temporarily resettling in makeshift shelters across the Ivorian border.
Mr. Ablakwa noted that government’s interventions — including reinforced security deployments, mediation efforts, and community peacebuilding initiatives — have been critical in restoring calm and encouraging voluntary returns.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka has reiterated that the state remains fully committed to protecting victims and preventing further outbreaks of violence.
Security agencies, he said, are maintaining a strong presence in the Gbinyiri area to guarantee the safety of all returning residents.
The government insists that beyond immediate relief, sustained peacebuilding will be the foundation for rebuilding communities shattered by the conflict.
