Rights group tells Gambia to end discrimination against Ghanaian descendants

A refugee advocacy organisation has called on Gambian authorities to immediately cease what it described as discriminatory practices against residents of Ghanaian descent, warning of potential diplomatic consequences and widespread statelessness.
The Asylum and Refugee Rights Advocacy Foundation accused The Gambia of unlawfully denying identity document renewals to established communities, particularly in Ghana Town, Brufut, where many families have lived for decades. The organisation warned these practices could render an entire community stateless, violating multiple regional and international agreements.
Dr Okey James Ezugwu, the foundation’s executive director and former immigration official, highlighted that “approximately 94% of the more than 600 residents are at significant” risk under current Gambian law, which does not grant automatic citizenship to individuals born to non-Gambian parents, according to recent Ecowas Parliament presentations.
The crisis affects multiple generations of residents whose children and grandchildren consider The Gambia their only homeland. Many face exclusion from basic services including education, healthcare, and employment opportunities due to lack of valid documentation, creating cascading humanitarian impacts across affected families, he claimed.
The organisation emphasised that children cannot access education without valid identity documents, while young adults face employment barriers that increase poverty and exploitation risks. Women and children particularly suffer heightened vulnerabilities to trafficking and abuse due to their undocumented status.
Dr Ezugwu said beyond humanitarian concerns, the situation threatens Ghana-Gambia bilateral relations and could prompt reciprocal measures from Accra.
The advocacy foundation demands immediate cessation of discriminatory practices and reinstatement of document renewal processes for affected residents. It said where citizenship remains contested, appropriate residence documentation should be issued to ensure individuals can work, study, and contribute to society without harassment fears.
The organisation warned against forced evictions or deportations, noting most affected families lack roots in Ghana after generations of Gambian settlement. Instead, it urged dialogue between governments, Ecowas, and the African Union to develop sustainable, rights-based solutions respecting both sovereignty and legal obligations.
It said long-term solutions require comprehensive nationality law amendments and strengthened civil registration systems ensuring no child born on Gambian soil becomes stateless. “Such reforms would align The Gambia with international best practices and reaffirm human rights commitments”, Dr Ezugwu advised.