VZCZCXRO2196
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHAR #0294/01 0391727
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 081727Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3635
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 000294 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF PHUM TO BN GH
SUBJECT: TOGOLESE REFUGEES IN GHANA NEARLY TWO YEARS ON 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Nearly two years after Togolese refugees streamed 
across the Ghana border following post-election violence, the number 
of refugees repatriating to Togo has slowed, even though their 
situation in Ghana has become somewhat less attractive.  Food 
rations for half of them have stopped flowing, while some Ghanaians 
are showing signs of "refugee fatigue."  For its part, the GOG is 
not pressuring anyone to leave, nor will it likely encourage 
repatriation until it is convinced that conditions are right.  The 
conduct of the June legislative elections in Togo will probably 
determine whether the GOG and UNHCR will launch a more intensified 
campaign in cooperation with the GOT to encourage the Togolese 
refugees' repatriation.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) Ref Coord traveled with AF/W Desk Officer Emily Plumb to the 
Volta Region on January 22 for a meeting with UNHCR Head of Field 
Office Anicet Ndayisaba and for a visit to Togolese refugees in the 
village of Penyi.  Joining them were Needa Jehu-Hoyah, UNHCR Public 
Information Officer, and M. Ajith Sunghay, UNHCR Associate 
Protection Officer. 
 
-------------------- 
Repatriation Slowing 
-------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) According to the UNHCR Field Office, there has been only a 
small decrease in the estimated 10,000 refugees in Ghana since its 
May 2006 headcount (6,000 of these came in the 2005 exodus, while 
4,000 of these are Togolese who fled during the 1990s and are less 
likely to repatriate).  The GOT continues to push for a tri-partite 
agreement that would launch the UNHCR-assisted phase of 
repatriation, but both UNHCR headquarters in Geneva and the GOG 
believe the time is not yet right.  According to Ndayisaba, the head 
of the GOT's repatriation effort is an old Eyadema family stalwart 
whom refugees distrust.  He opined that a more moderate figure would 
encourage a greater number of refugees to return home.  He noted 
that some 1,500 refugees had repatriated from Benin over the past 
six months with UNHCR assistance, while only a handful had signed up 
in Ghana.  Although there were no reports of harassment, Ndayisaba 
had heard that many of the returnees had trouble re-integrating in 
Togo because they had difficulty finding employment. 
 
------------------- 
Largesse Decreasing 
------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) Beginning on January 1, UNHCR reduced food rations, providing 
full rations to only 3,000 of the most vulnerable Togolese in Ghana. 
 The other refugees, including the 4,000 who fled Togo during the 
1990's, receive nothing.  Ndayisaba acknowledged the less-than-ideal 
timing, since the first harvest for those engaged in agricultural 
projects will not be ready until March.  Nonetheless, UNHCR had 
agreed with the World Food Program to reduce food rations in 2007, 
forcing his office to reduce outlays.  In response, one refugee 
attempted to organize a peaceful protest, but the overall reaction 
has been muted. 
 
--------------------------- 
Possible Resettlement Cases 
--------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) UNHCR mentioned several medical cases and noted that others 
who had been heavily involved in politics would not likely return to 
Togo.  Ref Coord encouraged Ndayisaba to consult with UNHCR's hub 
and to refer those families for whom resettlement was the best 
durable solution.  In terms of medical care, GOG hospitals and 
clinics in the Volta Region remain available for the refugees to use 
at no charge, although the Togolese have to arrange their own 
transportation and often purchase medicine if it is not available 
inside the government facility. 
 
------------------------------ 
Meeting with Refugees in Penyi 
------------------------------ 
 
¶6. (SBU) Ref Coord and AF/W Desk Officer proceeded to meet with 
refugees in the small village of Penyi, an isolated settlement 
located about 30 kilometers northwest of the Aflao/Lome border 
crossing.  The 100 refugees living there were somewhat atypical in 
that they were younger than average and no refugees from the 
villages had yet repatriated.  Otherwise, they represented a mix of 
Togolese from both urban and rural backgrounds.  Women were involved 
in making cassava paste for sale, while some of the men found 
intermittent work as construction workers.  Refugees reported an 
improved sense of security, with no suspicious visitors from east of 
the border since June 2006. 
 
----------------------------- 
Some Signs of Refugee Fatigue 
----------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Nearly two years after the refugee flows began, there was 
increasing evidence of "refugee fatigue" in the region.  Some 
 
ACCRA 00000294  002 OF 002 
 
 
landlords have begun asking the Togolese to begin paying rent, 
including those living in cinderblock flats in Penyi.  Other 
Ghanaian host families sharing quarters with refugees have suggested 
it may be time for them to leave.  Those in Penyi said they were not 
yet ready to return, but would follow the June legislative elections 
in Togo closely.  If there is neither violence nor chicanery, they 
said they would then consider returning home. 
 
------------------ 
The View from Togo 
------------------ 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Embassy Lome has suggested that many refugees are 
reluctant to repatriate because they were involved in acts of 
violence and fear prosecution or retribution from their neighbors. 
During her stay in Togo, AF/W Desk Officer Plumb asked Georges 
Aidam, the Director of the Cabinet, about the refugees.  He simply 
said the GOT's goal was to convince all of them to return 
voluntarily.  He added that his wife, as Minister of Human Rights, 
was in charge of this effort.  There appeared to be no special 
program to persuade the Togolese refugees to return prior to the 
upcoming legislative elections so that they could vote. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) The Togolese refugees in Ghana have more reason than ever 
to repatriate:  an improving political climate in Togo, a sense that 
they may be wearing out their welcome, and a reduction in food 
rations.  The Secretary of Ghana's Refugee Board told Ref Coord on 
January 24 that the GOG and UNHCR would probably join forces after 
Togo's legislative elections - if they proceed peacefully and 
without massive fraud - to launch a program of "assisted" 
repatriation.  However, he said Ghana would first want assurances 
from the international community that conditions in Togo are 
suitable for returning refugees. 
 
¶10.  (U) This cable was cleared with AF/W Desk Officer Plumb and 
Embassy Lome. 
 
BRIDGEWATER