By Ousman Saidykhan
A recent assessment by the Gambia Commission for Refugees (GCR) and the Gambia Food and Nutrition Association (GAFNA) has revealed that several hundred residents of Ghana Town in Brufut are at “significant” risk of statelessness due to a lack of identification documents. The findings were presented to the National Assembly Committee on Health.
The assessment, conducted in November 2024, surveyed 686 individuals, with 98.8% of respondents considering The Gambia their home. Only six respondents identified Ghana as their home, while one identified with Guinea.
The report highlights a significant concern regarding the citizenship status of children in the community. Among the respondents, 434 are parents to 1,735 children, comprising 842 boys and 893 girls. The report underscores the potential implications for these children’s citizenship status.
“This statistic illustrates that a huge number of children who were born by non-Gambian parents in Ghana Town will be at risk of being stateless as the Constitution of the Gambia does not grant citizenship based on the right of soil (jus soli). If this persists, these children will find it difficult to access schools, have proper medical treatments, and have future job opportunities,” said Chief Superintendent Omar T. Camara, who serves as the government focal point for stateless persons.
Although the Gambia’s citizenship law does not apply the “right of soil” for citizenship acquisition, Ghana’s constitution does guarantee citizenship to a person born outside of Ghana if either of their parents or grandparents is or was a citizen.
“The opportunity to secure a citizenship in Ghana could appear higher. However, the number of parents who lack documentation from Ghana may hinder access to nationality,” O.T Camara said while presenting the report before the parliamentary committee, adding the majority of the respondents decided to continue their life in The Gambia considering it their “home due to their birth, history, and residence with the country.”
According to the assessment report, 542 respondents (78.9%) were born in the Gambia, while 134 respondents (19.5%) were born in Ghana. However, the fathers and mothers of the “overwhelming majority” of respondents—634 and 637, respectively—were born in Ghana. Only 46 of the respondents had their fathers born in the Gambia, and their mothers were 47.
“Regarding parents’ documentation issued by the Ghana Government, respectively 337 and 298 fathers and mothers of respondents are undocumented. The data suggest that many individuals may face challenges in securing Gambian citizenship due to their parents’ foreign nationality, thereby increasing their risk of statelessness,” revealed the assessment.
At least 377 respondents do not have ID cards, and 257 have either valid or expired ID cards issued during former president Yahya Jammeh’s regime following a presidential directive. President Barrow has halted this, meaning these people cannot renew their ID cards once they expire.
“President Barrow Government’s decision to stop ID card and Passport acquisition launched by the former regime is the principal cause of documentation non-renewal by owners,” the report said.
The report recommended an “urgent” need for legal reforms in The Gambia’s citizenship laws to ensure individuals with foreign-born parents can secure nationality and children born to Gambian parents are recognized as citizens.
It also recommended initiating awareness campaigns to sensitize citizens to obtain national identity documents and understand their rights.
The GCR has also recommended engagement with the Gambia Government to facilitate the naturalization process for the Ghana Town community and with the Government of Ghana to facilitate documentation and citizenship access for those willing to acquire it.
