Issue

Vol. 17 No. 1-2 (2009): Africa Media Review, Volume 17, no 1 & 2, 2009

5 - Media Image and Social Integration of Liberian and Togolese Refugees in Ghana

https://doi.org/10.57054/amr.v17i1-2.5179
Heidi G. Frontani
Kristine Silvestri
Amanda Brown

Corresponding Author(s) : Amanda Brown

abrown19@elon.edu

Africa Media Review, Vol. 17 No. 1-2 (2009): Africa Media Review, Volume 17, no 1 & 2, 2009

Abstract

In the 1990s, refugees throughout West Africa originated largely from Liberia and Togo. This article explores the reception of Liberian and Togolese refugees in one West African country – Ghana – from 1990-2007. It focuses attention on the role of Ghana’s print media, both state- and private-owned, in fostering or hindering the social integration of refugees. Ghanaian newspapers, radio broadcasts, United Nations reports and semi-structured interviews were used to build on studies of politics of belonging and relationship between ethnic identity and social integration among migrants to Ghana. It was found that Ghanaian media framed Liberia’s largely Krahn and Mandingo refugees as security threats, mercenaries and criminals, but not Togo’s Ewe refugees. Ghana’s ties to the Ewe people built hostility towards Togo’s anti-Ewe regimes, while Ghana supported Liberia’s anti-Krahn and Mandingo regimes. Liberians’ social integration was thwarted not only by Ghana’s good relations with the Liberian government, but also by media framing, lack of historical ties, internal dissent, cultural values opposed to Ghanaians and long term dependency on large United Nations organized settlements. Conversely, Togolese refugees self-settled with Ghanaian Ewe and quickly became self-sufficient in Ghana’s Volta region, once a part of Togo. The media can support social integration and more humane policies toward refugees by framing issues in human rights rather than security terms.

Keywords

Ghana Liberia Togo media framing refugees social integration
Heidi G. Frontani, Kristine Silvestri, & Amanda Brown. (2009). 5 - Media Image and Social Integration of Liberian and Togolese Refugees in Ghana. Africa Media Review, 17(1-2). https://doi.org/10.57054/amr.v17i1-2.5179
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
BibTeX
References
  1. Accra Mail, 2003, ‘Refugee Children Neglected’, Feb. 5. Available via Lexis Nexis, accessed June 22, 2007.
  2. Adebajo, A., 2002, Liberia’s Civil War: Nigeria, ECOMOG, and Regional Secu- rity in West Africa, Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
  3. Afele, M., 1993, April 8, ‘Ghana: International Aid Sought to Resettle Togolese Refugees’, Accra: Inter Press Service. Available via Lexis Nexis, accessed June 29, 2007.
  4. Agbale, G., 2007, ‘Ewe Ghanaian Student in the United States since 2001, personal communication.
  5. July 13, 2007.
  6. Akyea, E.O., 1998, Ewe, New York: Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. Akyeampong, E., 2006, ‘Race, Identity and Citizenship in Black Africa: The Case of the Lebanese in Ghana’, Africa. 76(3): 297-319.
  7. Alhassan, A., 2005, ‘Market Valorization in Broadcasting Policy in Ghana: Aban- doning the Quest for Media Democratization’, Media, Culture, and Society. 27(2): 211-228.
  8. Amedahe, F., 2007, ‘Ewe Ghanaian Professor’, University of Cape Coast, personal communication, April 6, 2007.
  9. Amnesty International, 2005, ‘Togo: Will History Repeat Itself?’, London: Am- nesty International Publications, number AFR 57/012/2005.
  10. Amnesty International, 2001, Annual Report 2001. London: Amnesty International Publications.
  11. Amnesty International, 1999, ‘Togo: Rule of Terror’, May 3, London: Amnesty International Publications, number AFR 57/001/1999.
  12. Associated Press, 1993, ‘Nearly Quarter Million People have Fled Togo since January’, Feb. 26. Geneva: The Associated Press. Available via Lexis Nexis, accessed June 29, 2007.
  13. BBC, 1993, ‘Benin’s Interior Minister Visits, Discusses Refugees and Security’, May 10. BBC Summary of World Broadcasts from Radio Lomé (in French) 0600 gmt 7 May 1993. ME/1684/B, Available via Lexis Nexis, accessed June 29, 2007. BBC, 1993a, ‘Medical Officer Warns of Health Risks due to Influx of Togolese’, Feb. 24 BBC Summary of World Broadcasts from Ghana Broadcasting Corpo- ration, Accra, 0600 gmt 21 Feb. 1993. ME/1621/B, Available via Lexis Nexis,
  14. accessed June 29, 2007.
  15. BBC, 1993b, ‘At Least 135,000 Refugees Said to have Come from Togo’, Feb. 22 BBC Summary of World Reports from Agence France-Presse in English 1540 gmt 19 Feb 93. ME/1619/B, Available via Lexis Nexis, accessed June 29, 2007. BBC, 1993c, ‘Radio on Plight of Togolese Refugees’, Feb 17 BBC Summary of World Broadcasts from Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Accra, 1800 gmt 17
  16. Feb. 1993. ME/1618/B, Available via Lexis Nexis, accessed June 29, 2007.
  17. BBC, 1993d, ‘More Refugees Cross into Ghana Following Failure of Colmar Talks’, Feb. 15 BBC Summary of World Broadcasts from Ghana Broadcasting Corpo- ration, Accra, in English 1800 gmt 11 Feb 93. ME/1613/B. Available via Lexis Nexis, accessed June 29, 2007.
  18. BBC News, 2005, November, 23, ‘Profile: Liberia’s Iron Lady’, Available: http:// news.bbc.co.uk, accessed: June 21, 2007.
  19. BBC News, 1994, ‘Foreign Ministry Statement on Presence of Togolese Refu- gees’ May 6. BBC Summary of World Broadcasts from Ghana Broadcasting Corporation radio, Accra, 1800 gmt 4 May 1994.
  20. AL/1990/A, Available via Lexis Nexis, accessed July 3, 2007.
  21. Bernard, R., 2007, ‘Canadian Journalist Working at Buduburam’, personal commu- nication, July 18, 2007.
  22. Bridging Refugee Youth and Children’s Services (BRYCS), 2004, January 30, ‘Back- ground on Potential Health Issues for Liberian Refugees’, Office of Global Health Affairs, Humanitarian and Refugee Health Affairs, Rockville (Mary- land): United States Department of Health and Human Services.
  23. Brown, D., 2003, ‘Educating Refugees: A Human Rights Report from the Buduburam Camp’, Accra Mail. Available via Lexis Nexis, accessed June 22, 2007.
  24. Carvin, A., 2005, ‘Ghana: Life in a Liberian Refugee Camp’, Global Voices. July, 22. Available: http://www.globalvoicesonline.org, accessed: June 21, 2007.
  25. Castles, S. and A. Davidson, 2000, Citizenship and Migration: Globalization and the Politics of Belonging. New York: Routledge.
  26. Cephas, J.G., 2007, ‘UNHCR Mandated to Repatriate Liberian Refugees’, April 3, the Vision. Available: http://thevisiononline.net, accessed: June 12, 2007.
  27. Cephas, J.G., 2007a, ‘We Commend Refugees for Cooperation’, Feb. 14, the Vision editorial.
Read More
Author biographies is not available.
Download
PDF
Statistic
Read Counter : 641 Download : 116