Group Tasks Lubbers on UNHCR-Ghana Offices

Washington, DC

A letter to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Rudd Lubbers, regarding the current condition of UNHCR Ghana, following the management and allegedly fraudulent activities by the former head of office, and of the formidable challenges before the agency.

September 18, 2002

Mr. Rudd Lubbers

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Case Postale 2500

CH-1211 Gen?ve 2 D?p?t

Switzerland

Dear High Commissioner Lubbers,

We write to you on behalf of the U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR) to discuss the refugee situation in Ghana. During July and August, a two-person USCR team conducted a mission to Ghana, where we know UNHCR has struggled with its operations. It is in this spirit that USCR offers the following observations regarding the obstacles confronting UNHCR/Ghana as it attempts to provide refugees and asylum seekers the dignified protection and assistance they deserve.

USCR is impressed with the dedication and energy the current acting UNHCR Representative in Ghana, Mr. Thomas Albrecht, has brought to the job. Mr. Albrecht has made improvements during his short time in Ghana and fully recognizes that much difficult work remains to be done. We hope that UNHCR/Geneva will give Mr. Albrecht all necessary support as he undertakes difficult reforms.

As you well know, the current condition of UNHCR programs in Ghana presents formidable challenges. During the tenure of the former head of office, UNHCR/Ghana's protection and assistance programs deteriorated to the point of neglect. Mismanagement, including allegedly fraudulent activities by the former head of office, reduced UNHCR/Ghana's refugee resettlement program to a dysfunctional state.

During USCR's site visit to Ghana this summer, we found that the cumulative decline of UNHCR/Ghana had damaged relations with Ghanaian governmental officials and implementing partners. Because UNHCR/Ghana failed to provide leadership for many years, local officials had dramatically reduced, suspended, or discontinued many critical refugee-related programs. For example, Ghana's Ministry of Interior has failed to maintain an active Refugee Board mandated by Ghanaian refugee law, resulting in the suspension of refugee status determinations. This continues to endanger the lives of refugees and asylum seekers that the Ghanaian government and UNHCR are responsible for protecting. The failure of UNHCR/Ghana to maintain and implement proper registration procedures has further compromised the refugee resettlement program.

During USCR's site visit, many refugees and asylum seekers in Ghana expressed the view that UNHCR has abandoned them. It will probably take years of hard work and reforms to reverse that unfortunate perception. With that in mind, USCR respectfully offers the following recommendations to properly rebuild UNHCR/Ghana: ? UNHCR/Ghana should overhaul management and administrative procedures and assistance and protection programs simultaneously. UNHCR/Ghana should undertake all efforts to ensure that the ongoing needs of refugees and asylum seekers are met during this transitional period.

? UNHCR/Geneva should officially upgrade UNHCR/Ghana to the status of Branch office. This will raise the profile of the Ghana program with UNHCR/Geneva and increase the potential that UNHCR/Ghana will receive adequate financial and human resources, and requisite technical support.

? UNHCR should conduct a thorough demographic census of all refugee and asylum seekers in Ghana. Currently, UNHCR staff in Ghana is unable to identify who is a refugee and who is not.

? UNHCR should register all refugees and asylum seekers in Ghana, utilizing the most cost effective and innovative technology available for identification purposes. Implementing identification methods that incorporate digitized photos and biometrics can expedite and streamline the registration process, while at the same time help combat fraud.

? UNHCR should conduct a thorough needs assessment of refugee and asylum seekers in Ghana. Once a thorough census is completed, UNHCR/Ghana can develop and implement targeted assistance programs.

? UNHCR/Ghana should strive to restore and maintain a transparent and collaborative relationship with refugees and asylum seekers. Relations between UNHCR and refugees and asylum seekers have been damaged. Establishing open lines of communication will better enable UNHCR to meet the needs of refugees and asylum seekers in Ghana.

? UNHCR/Ghana should regularly share pertinent information with its implementing partners, regional resettlement partners, and governmental officials. UNHCR/Ghana should consider developing a joint database with the support and input of implementing partners.

? UNHCR should officially designate UNHCR/Ghana as a Regional Resettlement Hub and provide the newly established office with adequate financial and human resources, and requisite technical support. Ghana is a strategically located, peaceful West Africa nation with a well-established international refugee resettlement infrastructure in Accra that has the potential to process resettlement cases properly and efficiently.

? UNHCR, in close cooperation with regional resettlement partners and Ghanaian government officials, should conduct a resettlement information campaign for refugees and asylum seekers in Ghana. Most refugee resettlement problems are rooted in misinformation.

? UNHCR/Ghana and its implementing partners should strive to ensure that the Ghanaian government reactivates its Refugee Board and recommences refugee status determination activities without further delay.

USCR strongly believes that the foundation exists for UNHCR to restore its institutional integrity, regional credibility, and dedication to refugees and asylum seekers in Ghana. With committed support from UNHCR/Geneva and the international community the potential exists for a properly rebuilt UNHCR/Ghana to serve as a model for refugee programs worldwide.

USCR will work to persuade U.S. and Ghanaian government officials and UNHCR partners to support UNHCR's reform efforts as a crucial component to the future success of UNHCR/Ghana.

We at USCR welcome the opportunity to discuss with you further any of the above matters, as well as any additional issues regarding Africa's uprooted people.

Sincerely,

Lavinia Limon Joel Frushone

Executive Director Policy Analyst

U.S. Committee for Refugees U.S. Committee for Refugees

CC: David Lambo, Director, UNHCR Africa Bureau

Zobida Hassim-Ashagrie, Deputy Director, UNHCR Africa Bureau

Abu Musa, Director, UNHCR Western and Central Africa regions

Guenet Guebre-Christos, Representative, Regional Office for the United States