Perceptions of the Impact of Refugees on Host Communities: The Case of Liberian Refugees in Ghana

Codjoe, Samuel Nii Ardey; Quartey, Peter; Tagoe, Cynthia Addoquaye; Reed, Holly E.

doi:10.1007/s12134-012-0249-1

Cited by 10 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Unlike the general perceptions about negative impact, evidences from mass refugee situations show that both the perceived and real impact of refugees on the living conditions of locals are mixed (Codjoe et al 2013;Alix-Garcia and Saah, 2009). In the case of Liberian refugees in Ghana, Codjoe et al (2013) find that refugees increased the costs of goods and services, brought the pressure on facilities, and deteriorated the environmental resources on the one hand, emerged as new market and trade partners on the other hand. The case on Rwanda and Burundi refugee inflows in Tanzania shows that refugee camps have positive wealth effects on nearby rural households, while they negatively affect the wealth of on households in urban areas (Alix-Garcia and Saah, 2009).…”

Section: Refugees Labor Market Integration: Multiple Actors and Compementioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptions About the Labor Market Integration of Refugees: Evidences from Syrian Refugees in Jordan

Mencütek

Nashwan

2020

Int. Migration & Integration

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This article focuses on the refugees' labor market integration in the immediate host countries. Drawing from the experience of Syrian refugees in Jordan, it describes how the integration in labor market depends on the alignment of four perspectives: (1) host state perspective, materialized through legal regulations about refugee employment; (2) refugee perspective that refers to refugees' access to labor market and challenges they face; (3) host community perspective that implies to the recognition, approval, or reactions of host communities to the refugee employment; and (4) donor perspective that appears with the intervention of international actors through development aid or general support to refugees' working rights. To explore these diverging perspectives and their implications about the labor market integration of Syrian refugees in Jordan, the data is gathered from ethnographic policy analysis and stakeholder interviews in urban areas and camps. We argue that the refugees' legal right to work is one of the most contentious policy issues not only for Jordanian state but also for its relations with Jordanian citizens, refugees, and donors. From the perspective of donors, ensuring Syrians' legal access to labor market in the immediate host countries, like Jordan, is a policy tool for keeping refugees in the origin region. At the host community level, the issue appears as a source of dilemma; because refugee employment is a critical domain for refugees' self-reliance and local integration on the one hand, it is perceived as the source of competition for already scarce job opportunities on the other hand. For refugees themselves, an access to labor market and getting support are ways of gaining sustainable livelihood opportunities, self-reliance, and dignity. However, this access is marked by severe conditions of exploitation, vulnerability, and discrimination in working places as well as the anti-refugee rhetoric of local host communities. Programming in refugee employment necessitates taking all these four perspectives into account.

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Section: Refugees Labor Market Integration: Multiple Actors and Compementioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptions About the Labor Market Integration of Refugees: Evidences from Syrian Refugees in Jordan

Mencütek

Nashwan

2020

Int. Migration & Integration

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“…Tanzania is home to numerous refugees from the neighboring countries Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) [30,39,40]. Similar to other countries [41][42][43], refugees in Tanzania increase the pressure on land and land conflicts, and environmental mismanagement occurs [44,45].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Land Conflict Management through the Implementation of the National Land Policy in Tanzania: Evidence from Kigoma Region

2019

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The land policy in Tanzania, which has been implemented since 1995, aims to resolve land-use problems. This study explored the implementation of land policy in rural Tanzania. A cross-sectional multiple data collection technique was performed during the period July–November, 2017 to examine whether the policy has addressed land issues, including land conflicts. The findings indicate a significant association between immigrants and land conflicts, thus implying an insecure land tenure. The results also show that the realization of land policy was hampered by insufficient budgetary allocation and too few land staff to spearhead the land policy and legislation requirements. In view of these findings, this article suggests that the government must mobilize the resources required for registering communal land and simultaneously reinforce the use of social institutions, cultural norms, and adjoining landowners in securing land rights. This decision will encourage the majority of rural landowners (peasants and herdsmen) to invest in their land for higher and sustainable production.

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“…The settlement was set up in 1990 by the Ghanaian government, and it served as a reception center for accommodating the refugees (Dick, 2002). It was named after the local community, Buduburam, with a land area currently estimated to be 140 acres; it has extended over its original borders into the indigenous host community (Codjoe et al., 2012; Dick, 2002).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Buduburam is located in the Gomoa East District of the Central Region of Ghana and is about 45 minutes’ drive from Accra, the capital city. Over the years, Buduburam has become a semi-urban refugee settlement since it has seen an increase in population and has transformed into a lively, active community (Codjoe et al., 2012). The settlement has many amenities, such as a police post, two markets, hospital, schools, public toilets, fire service station, social welfare office, camp management office, and other offices run by non government organizations.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, while the levels of humanitarian aid for the refugees have decreased, refugee-host relations have also worsened (Omata, 2012). The host community believes that the presence of the refugees has led to increased prices of goods and services, pressure on facilities, increased social vices, and deteriorated environmental resources (Codjoe et al., 2012). For instance, host community members who owned property which was converted into the refugee settlement perceive total loss of that property the longer the refugees stay.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Challenges and coping strategies of refugees: Exploring residual Liberian refugees’ experiences in Ghana

Dako‐Gyeke

Adu

2016

Qualitative Social Work

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This study explored the challenges and coping strategies among Liberian refugees in Ghana. Using a qualitative research design, 40 participants were purposively recruited at a refugee settlement in Ghana. Four focus group discussions and sixteen in-depth interviews were conducted. The focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were audio-taped, transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically based on the objectives of the study. The findings indicated that the refugees experienced challenges related to disruption in social networks, disputes over resources, high rate of unemployment, and increased level of criminal activities. The study also revealed that the refugees included in this study resorted to religion, spirituality, and income earning activities as their coping strategies. The findings offer insights for social workers, policy actors, and future research.

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Perceptions of the Impact of Refugees on Host Communities: The Case of Liberian Refugees in Ghana

Cited by 10 publications

References 18 publications

Perceptions About the Labor Market Integration of Refugees: Evidences from Syrian Refugees in Jordan

Perceptions About the Labor Market Integration of Refugees: Evidences from Syrian Refugees in Jordan

Land Conflict Management through the Implementation of the National Land Policy in Tanzania: Evidence from Kigoma Region

Challenges and coping strategies of refugees: Exploring residual Liberian refugees’ experiences in Ghana

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