Ghanaians in Burkina Faso
"Up until recently, Burkina Faso had not experienced refugee problems," says Julien Yougbaré, a UNDP official, who in the absence of a UNHCR delegation in the country, is responsible for the "refugee dossier." "During the 70s, we received only one demand for asylum. The country, however, due to its central position in West Africa, has always been a favourite stopping-off place for a large number of refugees. They came from southern, central or eastern Africa, spending a few days in Ouagadougou, before going back to their country of asylum."
The situation changed at the beginning of 1982. "After the change of regime in Ghana," Julien Yougbaré pursues, "about 200 refugees crossed the frontier at that time and sought asylum in Burkina Faso." The majority of these held more or less important posts in the preceding Ghanaian government. "They were middle-aged men. Two hundred officers arrived overnight. A UNHCR official was sent by the local office in Dakar. He discussed the matter with the refugees and examined their demand. The majority of them were granted the right of asylum in Burkina Faso and benefited from the protection and assistance of UNHCR."
Jobs are scarce in the country, which is the reason why many Ghanaians left Burkina Faso to try their luck in one of the English-speaking countries of Africa. "There are merely 30 of them living here today."
A few of them settled in Ouagadougou, but the majority preferred to settle in the south of the country, in Tiébéle, Pô of Ló, towns which are close to the Ghanaian frontier. Thus members of the family who have remained at home can easily visit them. And the cultural differences are not so great. The ethnic groups living in the south of Burkina Faso are close to those of Ghana. In spite of the language difference, the refugees have not had too much difficulty in integrating.
Until now, these Ghanaians have survived thanks to the financial assistance of UNHCR. Only two of them succeeded in finding a job. They are professors of English, one at the University of Ouagadougou, the other at the School of Administration. "But we now feel that it is time for the others too to become economically indepen- dent. It is not advisable for the refugees to get used to living off aid."
Consequently, UNHCR proposed to each unemployed Ghanaian the creation of his own business. "We examined the home market's situation together. They then presented a project." Some decided to open grocery shops, others bars, sugar trading businesses or transport firms. "I had to turn down several projects, especially the sale of loin-cloths it didn't seem feasible. We came up with other solutions."
Since the beginning of the 80s, other refugees have been made welcome in Ouagadougou, in a gesture of solidarity towards those African countries most hard hit by the problem of exiled people. These others are younger than the Ghanaians, and are students from various African countries.
These micro-experiments began at the beginning of June 1984. Once again, with the financial support of UNHCR. "But we didn't give cash. We bought the necessary stocks to start off the businesses, paid the first months' rent and the transport of merchandise." The amount of aid varied between CFA francs 700,000 and 1,200,000 (US$ 600 and 2,3000) depending on the project. "We decided to assist the refugees in their enterprise for three months. At the end of this period, they should be capable of continuing on their own."
Julien Yougbare visited these projects regularly during the summer. He views their survival with optimism."I think that the Ghanaian refugees who chose to remain in Burkina Faso have understood the importance of the task. Once they are independent, it will permit them to integrate definitively in the Burkina society.”
Since the beginning of the 80s, other refugees have been made welcome in Ouagadougou, in a gesture of solidarity towards those African countries most hard hit by the problem of exiled people. These others are younger than the Ghanaians, and are students from various African countries.
They are called Terence, Innocent or Augustin. They are between 24 and 29 years-old and come from Burundi and Rwanda, from Zaire and Chad. They had to flee their native country several years ago, the majority of them finding refuge in such countries of asylum as Tanzania or Kenya.
But as they are French-speaking, they wished to follow university studies in their own language. They addressed themselves, therefore, from their host country to various African universities of West and North Africa, through UNHCR's mediation. In the hope of being able to enrol themselves, "I wrote to Morocco, Senegal and Burkina Faso," says Innocent, a 24 year-old Rwandan and future agronomist who had found refuge in Tanzania. "The University of Ouagadougou replied first. It accepted my enrollment."
Out of the 50 young student refugees, Innocent was the last to arrive in Ouagadougou. In many cases, the others have been here for the past two or three years. They are almost all single.
Wango, on the other hand, is 29, married and the father of two children. "I am from Zaire. I was granted asylum in Burundi but had absolutely no possibility of studying there. I am at the Faculty of Sociology here."
In Burkina Faso, there was never any question of grouping the refugees together in camps or reception centres. "This is partly because their number remains small, but especially because we do not want to create a ghetto," explains Julien Yougbare. "It seems to me that the best way of bringing about their integration is to assist them financially and remain at their disposal for information or advice, letting them manage the organization of their daily lives.
Paradoxically, the life of a student is most difficult during the summer holi- days, which last for three long months in Ouagadougou. "We do not have the means to return to our countries of asylum, where we could meet members of the family. Neither do we have the means to profit from these holidays to visit the country a little. The University is closed and the sports clubs are less active. We spend the time as best we can. We come together in one or other of our places to talk or study."
A high cost of living, with possibilities for relaxation limited and for travelling non-existent. The daily life of Rwandese, Burundian, Zairian and Chadian students who are refugees in Burkina Faso is no bed of roses. In spite of the UNHCR support, the availability of the UNDP and the hospitality of the people. But it is their future prospects which are the most preoccupying for Innocent, Terence and their friends.
The majority of them will have finished their studies in three or four years. Theoretically, they should then return to their country of asylum. But the language will remain an obstacle to their integration. And after having spent several years in Ouagadougou, returning to a country which is not one's own is not a very bright prospect. As for the people of Burkina Faso, they cannot promise them a place in the sun. "A great number of university graduates of Burkina Faso are themselves condemned to unemployment," says Innocent. "So, as for us..."
