Ghana Repatriates 327 Citizens Displaced By Abidjan Demolitions

Home to an estimated six million to seven million people, about double its population in the late 1990s, Abidjan has undergone a construction boom, including in neighbourhoods vulnerable to deadly seasonal flooding.

Ivorian officials say the demolition operation targets informal settlements built in disaster-prone areas and aims to prevent loss of life from flooding and landslides.

But it has displaced dozens of families, raising concerns about its humanitarian impact and access to shelter for those who have been uprooted.

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“The Government of Ghana is repatriating… 327 Ghanaians who were affected by the ongoing mass demolition exercise,” the ministry said in a statement.

The remaining evacuees were expected to return on Friday, with authorities providing buses and trucks free of charge to transport them and their belongings.

The repatriated Ghanaian nationals “were previously residing in areas affected by the demolition exercise and became stranded having lost their sources of livelihood”, the statement added.

Ghana said its diplomatic mission in Abidjan was coordinating the evacuation and would remain engaged with Ivorian authorities, who have indicated plans to compensate those affected.

West African countries share strong migration ties, with many Ghanaians living and working in Ivory Coast.

AFP