The Church of Jesus Christ Makes Emergency Relief Donation to Refugee Camp in Axim, Ghana 

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On 25 May 2024, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made emergency relief donations to the Krisan Refugee Camp in the Axim District, in the Western Region of Ghana. The Krisan camp has been operational for 30 years and hosts refugees from 16 different African countries. Recently, the camp received 91 new families, Liberians who were relocated from the Buduburam Refugee Camp near Accra. The Church has been supporting the refugee camp in Axim since its inception and has built a training facility through Latter-Day Saint Charities.

The Krisan Refugee Camp was established in 1996 following an influx of Liberian refugees fleeing conflict. Togolese refugees were relocated to the camp in 1997, and from 2000 to 2002, Sierra Leoneans fleeing conflict in their home country were also sent to Krisan. The camp was also home to Sudanese refugees who began arriving in Ghana in 2004. More recently, the camp has been home to refugees from the Congo, Rowanda, Chad and Cote d’Ivoire.

The aid was specifically directed to meeting the needs of the new refugee families, and included sleeping mattresses, mosquito nets, bags of rice, cooking oil, tomato paste, canned fish, and sachets of drinking water. Distribution was based on the specific needs of each family, ensuring that each received items sufficient for their current situation. Fulltime missionaries serving in the area were on hand to help families carry the donated items to their homes.

Representing the Church at the donation ceremony was President Christopher L. Morgan and Sister Christine M. Morgan, mission leaders in the Ghana Cape Coast Mission. They were joined by Eric Ekpaha Mensah, president of the Axim Ghana District, and Joshua Ehoneah, president of the Esiama Branch of the Church.

Additionally, a small group of Church members, originating from seven African countries — Togo, Congo, Chad, Liberia, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone and Ghana — has started within the camp. They were represented by their group leader, Michael Worku.

President Mensah noted in his address at the ceremony that the donations were made by the generous contributions of Church members in Ghana and throughout the world.

“These donations were given out of love for our fellow Ghanaians and a desire to assist those in need,” he said.

He also encouraged the camp residents to follow the example of Jesus Christ and live in harmony.

In his remarks, President Morgan acknowledged the Muslim community within the camp and drew parallels between the Church of Jesus Christ and their Muslim friends.

“As Muslims are faithful to the five pillars of their religion, members of our Church profess their faith, give to the poor, and pray and fast always,” he said. “All people are children of a loving Heavenly Father who cares for each individual. Our donation today represents the love we have for our Heavenly Father and our desire to bless his children here in Ghana.”

The community members in the refugee camp were represented by camp chairman, Walid Azine, Chief Inspector of Police Frederick Opoku, and Emmanuel Buabeng Akanfor, the camp manager. There is a facility built by Latter-day Saint Charities on the camp premises that serves both as a training center and a chapel for the camp's residents who are members of the Church.