VZCZCXRO8925
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHAR #1688/01 2050844
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 240844Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1935
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 001688 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF PHUM TO BN GH
SUBJECT: SOME TOGOLESE REFUGEES REPATRIATING 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  A recent UNHCR registration revealed that 
the overall count of Togolese refugees who fled into Ghana's 
Volta Region in 2005 has decreased from 11,900 to 6,578. 
Refugees remain queasy about repatriating, despite evidence 
that several thousand have quietly done so already without 
incident.  Although UNHCR headquarters in Geneva is not yet 
prepared to authorize assisted or promoted repatriation, the 
number of spontaneous repatriations is a hopeful sign that 
the security situation in Togo is improving.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) Ref Coord Assistant traveled to the Volta Region on 
June 22 for a joint meeting with UNHCR Head of Field Office 
Anicet Ndayisaba, Rona Rathod (Political and Economic Chief 
from the Embassy in Lome), and Embassy Lome Political 
Assistant Jean-Pierre Dessou to discuss the Togolese 
refugees living in Ghana's Volta Region.  Also attending the 
meeting were Needa Jehu-Hoyah, UNHCR Public Information 
Officer, and M. Ajith Sunghay, UNHCR Associate Protection 
Officer.  This message was prepared in conjunction with and 
cleared by Embassy Lome. 
 
--------------------------- 
UNHCR Verification Exercise 
--------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) According to the UNHCR Field Office, their 
verification exercise, which concluded on May 11, accounted 
for 6,578 Togolese refugees (of the original 11,900 who fled 
into Ghana last year).  They remain scattered throughout the 
Volta region in 114 locations.  The lower-than-expected 
number was largely due to a sizeable number of spontaneous 
returns that took place without UNHCR assistance. 
 
¶4. (U) UNHCR has started distributing agricultural tools and 
seeds as well as sewing machines for income-generating 
purposes in the neediest rural areas and plans to extend 
this program to other areas, such as Ho.  While all 
registered refugees still receive a monthly food ration, 
eventually the food distribution will be reserved for the 
most vulnerable. 
 
--------------------------- 
Possible Resettlement Cases 
--------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) UNHCR at this point has not identified any Volta 
Region cases for resettlement, neither from the old caseload 
dating from the early 1990's nor from the new.  Needa Jeu- 
Hoyah, UNHCR's Public Information Officer, ageed that a 
small numbe of refugees would not beable to return to Togo 
because of their involvemet in opposition politics; 
although resettlement was a possible durable solution, she 
didn't believe in uprooting refugees from their familiar 
environment. 
 
------------------------------------- 
Meeting with Refugees in Ho and Likpe 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) The group proceeded to meet with refugees in the 
regional capital of Ho and in Likpe, a small village within 
walking distance of the Togolese border.  Unfortunately, 
fear of discovery by the GOT kept some refugees from 
attending the meeting in Ho.  Asked about their possible 
repatriation, the refugees were quite clear that they did 
not yet consider it safe to do so.  Refugees were not 
specific about any real or perceived dangers in Togo, and 
said they had not had further contact with those who had 
returned.  However, refugees in Ho were very concerned about 
the so-called "men on motos," a small group of unidentified 
motorcyclists riding without license plates who had appeared 
in the area three times in the past seven months, inquiring 
about certain refugees and thus contributing to the general 
feeling of insecurity. 
 
¶7. (U) Other issues the refugees mentioned were a lack of 
nutritious food (especially for children), housing and 
income-generating work.  Ghanaians reported informally that 
the Togolese were welcome to stay as long as necessary, but 
refugees have encountered difficulties finding work and 
selling their produce in the local markets. 
 
------------------ 
The View from Lome 
------------------ 
 
¶8. (U) Prior to this visit, Embassy Lome had heard that 
refugees were starting to repatriate, especially from Ghana. 
Togolese human rights groups confirmed this trend, but said 
the refugees had chosen to maintain a low profile and had 
not registered with the GOT Refugee Return Office (HCRAH) 
because of lingering suspicion over GOT motives.  By all 
 
ACCRA 00001688  002 OF 002 
 
 
accounts, the returnees are living unmolested in their 
homes.  HCRAH seems to have gotten word of the spontaneous 
returns and is ramping up its campaign to encourage more 
Togolese to come home, as evidenced by several large 
advertisements that have appeared recently in the government- 
run daily Togo Presse. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Three weeks ago, UNHCR Representative Rafik Saidi, 
based in Cotonou, met with Ambassador Dunn in Lome.  Later 
that week, Saidi returned with Ghana's UNHCR Representative 
Aida Mariam Haile to discuss whether the time was right for 
UNHCR to promote full-scale returns.  The Cotonou UNHCR 
office, which observed a repatriation trend similar to that 
in Ghana, intended to facilitate the return of 350 Togolese 
from Benin during the coming weeks.  When asked whether it 
had heard of any reports of government mistreatment of 
returnees, Embassy Lome explained that through its close 
contacts with some of the major opposition parties, it had 
remained apprised of the repatriated refugees' situation and 
was not aware of any cases of persecution or prosecution. 
Lome recommended that Saidi contact Jean-Pierre Fabre, 
Secretary General of the UFC (United Forces of Change), 
 
SIPDIS 
Togo's principal opposition party, for a fuller picture of 
the returnees' situation.  Despite spontaneous returns from 
both sides of Togo, Saidi believed that Geneva would be 
hesitant to promote repatriation because of a lack of 
information. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) Comment:  In Embassy Lome's view, the primary 
obstacle to repatriation appears to be a fear of personal 
score-settling.  This fear of personal vendettas, 
particularly among those who participated in acts of 
violence or vandalism against neighbors before fleeing Togo, 
is exacerbated by the concern that the GOT would be unable 
or disinclined to control any acts of retribution that may 
occur.  Accra's Ref Coord Assistant believes that an even 
greater obstacle to repatriation is the fear of being 
targeted because of previous association with opposition 
politics. 
 
¶11. (SBU)  Comment continued:  The fact that so many 
refugees are repatriating without UNHCR assistance offers 
further evidence of an improvement in the security situation 
in Togo.  Neither Embassy Lome nor Accra, despite their 
ongoing contacts with refugees, independent journalists, 
Togolese opposition parties, and interlocutors in rural 
Togo, has been able to cite any recent negative reactions to 
the returnees -- a hopeful sign.  UNHCR has done an 
exemplary job managing this difficult caseload.  End 
Comment. 
 
BRIDGEWATER