GhanaHumanitarian protection
Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.
The route is an application for recognition as a refugee under Ghana's Refugee Act; it is a protection process, not an ordinary visa application.
make an application for recognition as a refugee to the Board
The procedure covers a person within Ghana's boundaries, whether they entered lawfully or unlawfully, who wishes to remain as a refugee within the meaning of the Refugee Act. A refugee is a person within the definition of Article 1 of the 1951 UN Convention, the 1967 Protocol or the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention, or who belongs to a class of persons declared refugees by the Minister.
(1) A person who is within the boundaries of the Republic, whether that person entered lawfully or unlawfully who wishes to remain in the Republic as a refugee within the meaning of this Act,
“refugee” means a person who (a) falls within the definition provided in, (i) Article 1 of the 1951 United Nations Convention set out in Part One of the Schedule; or
(ii) Article 1 of the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugee, set out in Part Two of the Schedule; or (iii) Article 1 of the 1969 Organisation of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa set out in Part Three of the Schedule; or (b) belongs to a class of persons declared by the Minister as refugees.
The application is made within fourteen days of entry, or within a further period allowed by the Refugee Board, through an immigration or police officer, or UNHCR in Ghana.
shall within fourteen days of the entry into the Republic or a further period that the Board may allow, make an application for recognition as a refugee to the Board
through the nearest immigration officer at the point of entry, through an immigration officer, a police officer or through the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Ghana.
The receiving officer or office forwards the application with supporting documents to the Refugee Board within seven days; the Board considers it within thirty days of receipt, may inquire or investigate and invite the applicant to appear, then recognises or refuses and notifies the decision in writing. The applicant and each family member have the right to remain in Ghana until recognition or, if refused, until the appeal right is exhausted, and where an appeal is dismissed for a reasonable time not exceeding three months to seek admission elsewhere. A person claiming refugee status is not to be detained, penalised or declared a prohibited immigrant merely for illegal entry or presence pending determination. The official source does not state material support, work permission or accommodation while the claim is pending.
(2) The officer through whom or the office through which the application is made shall within seven days of the receipt of the application, forward the application, together with the documents or any other information which the applicant is able to provide in support of the application to the Board.
(3) The Board shall consider each application referred to it within thirty days of the receipt of the application and shall within the thirty days or thereafter make an inquiry or investigation as the Board thinks necessary into the application and may for the purpose of its investigation, invite the applicant to appear before it.
(4) After its investigation, the Board may recognise or refuse to recognise the applicant as a refugee; and shall notify the applicant of its decision in writing.
(1) Despite the provisions of any other law, a person who has applied for recognition as a refugee, and each member of that person’s family shall have the right to remain within the Republic (a) until that person has been recognised as a refugee,
(b) in the event of the application being unsuccessful, until the applicant has had the opportunity to exhaust the right of appeal under section 9, or (c) where an appeal has been dismissed, until the applicant has been allowed a reasonable time not exceeding three months, to seek admission to a country of the person’s choice.
Despite a provision of the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573) but subject to this Act, a person claiming to be a refugee within the meaning of this Act, who illegally enters the Republic or is illegally present in the Republic shall not 112 (a) be declared a prohibited immigrant, (b) be detained, or (c) be imprisoned or penalised in any other manner, merely by reason of that person’s illegal entry or presence pending the determination of that person’s application for a refugee status.
The Act identifies the Refugee Board, immigration or police officers, the Minister on appeal, and UNHCR in Ghana as competent bodies or channels.
make an application for recognition as a refugee to the Board through the nearest immigration officer
police officer or through the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Ghana.
appeal in writing to the Minister.
These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.
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