ABSTRACT
Globally refugee integration has been one of the three durable solutions that has been used
worldwide. Millions of refugees around the world live year after year with little hope of ever
returning home. Some cannot because their countries are engulfed by endless conflict or because
they fear persecution if they were to return. In cases where repatriation is not an option, finding a
home in the country of asylum and integrating into the local community could offer a durable
solution to their plight and the chance to build a new life. This study examined the socio-cultural
and economic factors affecting integration of former Liberian refugees in Ghana. The specific
objectives were to examine the demographic characteristics of L.I applicants and how it affected
their integration processes, economic and socio-cultural factors effect on L.I applicants as well as
how GRB and UNHCR approach towards integration of refugees in Ghana. The research
employed a mixed methods approach with a sample size of seventy (70) respondents for
quantitative and eight (8) in-depth interviews consisting of four (4) LI applicants and relevant
organizations including GRB, UNHCR, GIS and NADMO (Camp Management) for the
qualitative. The concepts of social, cultural and economic integration were used for the
conceptual framing of the work. Among the key findings of the study were that; first, 48.6% of
the respondents opted to stay in Ghana because of physical security, two-fifth of them (40.0%)
used the money received as part of the LI package to pay school fees. The main economic factors
affecting the integration of the LI applicants is high standard of living and difficulty in getting
access to job opportunities in Ghana. Socio-culturally, more than half (61.4%) of the respondents
could not speak any Ghanaian language, which is vital to the integration process, but
overwhelming majority (91.4%) responded yes to enjoying Ghanaian food. Again, close to threequarters (71.4%) mentioned that they belong to a religious group. The study concluded that,
support from GRB and UNHCR and some state organizations aided in the integration process
through skills training, facilitation of legal documents as well as community integration. It is
recommended that, access to social services, acquisition of resources should be made available
and accessible to L.I applicants to ensure fairness and balance in acquiring resources. Since
issues surrounding local integration are complex in nature, such processes should start from the
time the country (Ghana) opens its borders to refugees in order to avoid possible problems at the
end of the refugee cycle
Edu, F (2021). Social Culture And Economics Factors Affecting The Integration of Former Liberain Refugees in Ghana; A Case Study of Accra, Kasoa and Buduburam. Afribary.com: Retrieved April 11, 2021, from https://afribary.com/works/social-culture-and-economics-factors-affecting-the-integration-of-former-liberain-refugees-in-ghana-a-case-study-of-accra-kasoa-and-buduburam
Frontiers, Edu. "Social Culture And Economics Factors Affecting The Integration of Former Liberain Refugees in Ghana; A Case Study of Accra, Kasoa and Buduburam" Afribary.com. Afribary.com, 06 Apr. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/social-culture-and-economics-factors-affecting-the-integration-of-former-liberain-refugees-in-ghana-a-case-study-of-accra-kasoa-and-buduburam . Accessed 11 Apr. 2021.
Frontiers, Edu. "Social Culture And Economics Factors Affecting The Integration of Former Liberain Refugees in Ghana; A Case Study of Accra, Kasoa and Buduburam". Afribary.com, Afribary.com, 06 Apr. 2021. Web. 11 Apr. 2021. < https://afribary.com/works/social-culture-and-economics-factors-affecting-the-integration-of-former-liberain-refugees-in-ghana-a-case-study-of-accra-kasoa-and-buduburam >.
Frontiers, Edu. "Social Culture And Economics Factors Affecting The Integration of Former Liberain Refugees in Ghana; A Case Study of Accra, Kasoa and Buduburam" Afribary.com (2021). Accessed April 11, 2021. https://afribary.com/works/social-culture-and-economics-factors-affecting-the-integration-of-former-liberain-refugees-in-ghana-a-case-study-of-accra-kasoa-and-buduburam