Population figures

Total country population

34,777,522

Forcibly displaced population

Refugees (under UNHCR's mandate):

7,091

Asylum-seekers:

5,239

IDPs (of concern to UNHCR):

0

Other people in need of international protection:

0

Other

Statelessness persons

0

Host community

0

Others of concern to UNHCR

0

Country context

Ghana is located along the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, bordered by Côte d’Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, and Togo to the east. Its geographic position places it within a region experiencing significant cross-border displacement, particularly from the Sahel.

As of April 2025, Ghana continued to host a mixed population of registered and unregistered refugees and asylum-seekers, predominantly originating from Burkina Faso and Togo.  

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Refugees and asylum-seekers in Ghana are distributed across various regions. Burkinabe nationals are predominantly located in the northern regions, while Togolese refugees are mainly in the Volta Region. Urban areas, including Accra and its surroundings, also host a portion of the refugee population. Additionally, there are camp-based populations in the western part of the country. 

In response to the influx of asylum-seekers, reception and settlement centers have been established in Tarikom (Upper East Region) and Zini (Upper West Region). These centers provide shelter and basic assistance to asylum-seekers who relocate there. 

In February 2025, the Government of Ghana has taken a significant step in refugee protection by granting prima facie refugee status to Burkinabe asylum seekers who have sought safety within its borders. This recognition provides crucial access to documentation and legal rights, facilitating socio-economic inclusion and enabling Burkinabe refugees to support themselves and contribute to their host communities.

Ghana is committed to acceding to the 1954 and 1961 UN conventions on statelessness.  Some of the protections of the conventions are already part of the existing domestic laws. While specific data on stateless persons in Ghana is limited, the country is part of a region where statelessness remains a concern. Efforts are ongoing to address statelessness through legal and policy frameworks aimed at ensuring that affected individuals can acquire recognized legal identity and nationality. 

Ghana is also involved in regional initiatives to strengthen asylum frameworks and improve refugee status determination procedures. Recent developments have seen Ghana participating in regional efforts aimed at addressing the challenges of forced displacement. The Gulf of Guinea Joint Response Plan 2024 highlights Ghana's role in responding to the influx of refugees and asylum-seekers from the central Sahel region. This collaborative approach underscores the country's commitment to regional stability and the protection of displaced populations.

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Sources: UNHCR Refugee Data finder https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/ | 2024 mid-year figures. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2022). World Population Prospects 2022, Online Edition https://population.un.org/wpp/assets/Files/WPP2022_Data_Sources.pdf