Abibiman Foundation joins the rest of the World to mark the World refugee Day 2016

Abibiman Foundation joins the rest of the World to mark the World refugee Day 2016.  Let recall our common humanity‚ celebrate tolerance and diversity and open our hearts to refugees everywhere, we stand together #With Refugees

World Refugee Day is a time for us all to reflect even as Ghana prepares to go to the polls. Electoral process gives the citizenry the sole right to elect their preferred political leaders. As if this is not enough, electoral process in Africa have most often been characterized by violence at various stages, from pre-election, during elections and post elections. This electoral process which give rights to the people to govern themselves is been challenged by the threats to security, peace and development.

Conflict has destroyed thousands of lives and families. An estimated 60 million people around the world have been forced from their homes. Among them are nearly 20 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18 are forcibly displaced in the world - as refugees, asylum seekers, migrants and internally displaced persons. 

There are also 10 million stateless people who have been denied a nationality and access to basic rights such as education, healthcare, employment and freedom of movement.  In a world where 42,500 people are forcibly displaced every day as a result of conflict or persecution (source UNHCR)

In time of reflecting let us provide support and protection for refugees and effectively managing migration which requires a global response.

Ensure every refugee child gets an education and safe place to live for them to learn new skills to enable them make positive contribution to their community.

We call on the Ghanaian media to report responsibly on the refugee crisis and present a balanced, fair picture of events, and not to fuel people’s fears and prejudices, as indicated in the UN convention below;

– Article 13 provides for the rights of aliens; UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (1951); African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights 

– Article 12 guarantees the right to seek asylum and protection from expulsion; and Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa

– Article 11 places an obligation on states to protect asylum seeking women‚ refugees‚ returnees and internally displaced persons‚ against all forms of violence‚ rape‚ and other forms of sexual exploitation”.

We therefore call on Ghana refugee board to take a serious look at Ghana asylum policy and help make that aspiration a reality.” On World Refugee Day,

We hope that the Ghana refugee board will not use this year’s celebration as another opportunity to make bold statements and promises that will never be fulfilled. Instead the national authorities must place this year celebration and the theme in its proper context to the benefit of our people.

I call on UNHCR Ghana and the international community to continue to advocate and intensify efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts, and to help achieve peace and security so that families can be reunited and refugees can return home.

For any further information don’t hesitate to contact the Abibiman foundation on Tel 0506766466 and Email:info@abibimanfoundation.org, our website www.abibimanfoundation.org

ABIBINSROMA PRESS STATEMENT - World Day to Combat Desertification

PRESS STATEMENT - World Day to Combat Desertification 2016

DATE: 17th June, 2016

We in Abibinsroma Foundation, in solidarity with every Ghanaian, especially those living in desert prone areas, wish you all a happy and memorable World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. This year’s theme for World Day to Combat Desertification is “Inclusive cooperation for achieving Land Degradation Neutrality, Protect Earth, Restore land and Engage people.” 

Desertification is a form of land degradation in which a relatively dry land region becomes increasingly arid, typically losing its bodies of water leaving no plants either wildlife on it. It is caused by a variety of factors, such as disasters or climate change which mostly resulting from irresponsible human’s activities. Desertification is a significant global ecological and environmental problem.

There are many strategies that can be adopted to help save lives and livelihoods in drought‐affected communities. By reframing policies in terms of drought preparedness and risk management, as opposed to disaster response, investments can be made that are much more cost‐effective and life‐ saving than sending humanitarian aid after a crisis has occurred. Through social and economic interventions among vulnerable communities, capacity and resilience to withstand the effects of drought can be strengthened. 

By encouraging sustainable land management, establishing early warning systems leading to early actions and incentivizing alternative livelihoods to agriculture and pastoralism, the effects of drought, especially among the world’s poor, need not be so devastating.

As we mark this year’s World day to combat Desertification and Drought, let us be reminded that when land degradation reaches a level where it seriously threatens people’s livelihoods, it can turn into a security issue. Let be bold to take action and investment in sustainable land management can boost food security, improve livelihoods and help people adapt to climate change One important approach is sustainable, climate-smart agriculture.  This will not only help communities to build resilience to climate change if we Investing in our resilience today costs a fraction of the relief price we will pay tomorrow

We regret the slow pace in the implementation of the UNCCD in Ghana and the lack of holistic programmes by government to address the problems of land degradation across the country. These are serious concerns that we condemn. This lack of political will is reflected in the general absence of collaboration and action among relevant institutions that have the remit of developing practical responses to the desertification and water pollution problems in Ghana.

We therefore call on government to take a serious look at its own obligations to the UNCCD and also the plight of people living in desert prone areas and beyond

 We hope that the government will not use this year’s celebration of the World Day to Combat Desertification as another opportunity to make bold political statements and promises on desertification that will never be fulfilled. Instead the national authorities must place this celebration and the theme in its proper context to the benefit of our people.

For any further information don’t hesitate to contact the Abibinsroma foundation on Tel 0506766466 and Email:info@abibinsromafoundation.org, our website www.abibimanfoundation.org