The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in collaboration with Qatar Charity, has donated relief items valued at several thousand Ghana cedis to Burkinabè nationals seeking asylum in Atta Akura, a community within the Kintampo North Municipality of the Bono East Region.

The 870 Burkinabè refugees fled their home country, Burkina Faso, due to escalating insecurity in Ghana’s northern neighbour.

The donated items, which include tents, water treatment equipment, solar lamps, and other essential supplies, were presented in the presence of representatives from the Mo Traditional Council, custodians of the Atta Akura lands.

The tents, in particular, offer much-needed relief to the asylum seekers, whose current shelters mostly makeshift huts and fragile tents leave them vulnerable to storms, rainfall, harmattan winds, reptiles, and other harsh weather conditions.

Mrs. Needa Jehu-Mazou, Head of UNHCR,UN Refugee Agency in Ghana, who led the donation exercise, stated that the initiative aims to provide temporary shelter for the refugees.

She emphasized that efforts are underway to secure more permanent housing solutions and to ensure access to quality healthcare and education for their children.

“These refugees from Burkina Faso arrived here in August 2025. After assessing their living conditions, we partnered with Qatar Charity to provide weather-resistant tents as a temporary measure while we work towards a permanent solution,” she said.

She disclosed that they are collaborating with the Regional Coordinating Council, the Municipal Assembly, the Ghana Refugee Board, the Traditional Council, and other stakeholders.

“We are exploring opportunities in agriculture, and the Traditional Council has allocated a large tract of land to the Ghana Refugee Board and UNHCR for this purpose. Qatar Charity will support the implementation of the project,” she explained.

She added that efforts are also underway to ensure all the children are enrolled in school.

The Representative of Refugees at Atta Akura, Pastor Joseph Dabourgou, commended the UNHCR and its partners for the support and the donation to the people.

Reports indicate that many of the Burkinabè refugees initially found refuge in border communities across the Northern, Upper East, and Upper West Regions of Ghana.

Mr. Sika Agbesi, the Ghana Refugee Board Coordinator for the Upper East and Bono East Regions, disclosed in an interview that approximately 875 Burkinabè refugees have so far been registered in the Bono East Region.

He added that registration efforts are ongoing to account for the remaining asylum seekers.

The arrival of the refugees in Atta Akura, Bawa Akura, and other communities in the Kintampo North Municipality had initially sparked concerns among some residents, who feared for their safety and security.

However, in an interview, Nana Atuahene I, speaking on behalf of Nana Kwaku Dankwa III, Paramount Chief of the Mo Traditional Area, allayed public fears.