Mr. Mahamud Forkar, the Sissala West District Chief Executive (DCE), alongside representatives from the United Nations, the European Union, and the Ghana Refugee Agency, inaugurated the Zini refugee and Asylum Seekers centre. The occasion marked the arrival of the first group of asylum seekers to the settlement, with a commitment from officials to ensure their safety and well-being.

The initial batch of 21 asylum seekers, originating from Kandia, were welcomed to the centre, while efforts were underway to assist others scattered in various communities to transition to the facility. Mr. Forkar assured those hesitant to relocate that the centre would provide security, shelter, water, healthcare, education, and livelihood support.

During a durbar at Zini to mark the centre's opening, the DCE emphasized the district's readiness to support the facility's objectives. He highlighted that as of April 2024, there were 914 asylum seekers within the district, many of whom were affected by disturbances in neighbouring Burkina Faso. Mr. Forkar stressed the government's obligation, as a member state of the United Nations, to offer protection to those affected by such conflicts.

Mr. Tetteh Padi, the Executive Secretary of the Ghana Refugee Agency, expressed appreciation to the local chiefs for their role in securing land for the centre. He clarified that the facility was designed to accommodate all asylum seekers in the Upper West Region, with a capacity of up to 3,000 individuals initially, expandable to 4,000 if necessary.

Mr. Andrew Ginsberg, the Team Leader of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), urged all stakeholders to prioritize the safety and well-being of the displaced persons. Chiefs from the surrounding areas, including the Chief of Zini and the Paramount Chief of the Buwaa Traditional Area, called for expanded infrastructure, including schools, health facilities, water systems, and police stations, to support both the centre and the surrounding communities.

Since 2022, the Sissala West district has seen an influx of Internally Displaced Persons fleeing conflicts in Burkina Faso. The district has welcomed these individuals, providing refuge and humanitarian assistance, in accordance with Ghana's commitment to UN protocols on internally displaced persons. Efforts from various organizations, including the District Security Committee, the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), UNICEF, the World Food Programme, and Adventure Relief Assistance, have been crucial in providing support to the asylum seekers.