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The Asylum and Refugee Rights Advocacy Foundation, also known as the Asylum And Refugee Rights Advocates (ARRA), has called on the Gambian government to immediately end what it describes as “unlawful and dangerous discrimination” against Ghanaian descendants in the country, warning that the denial of identity document renewals to this community violates binding regional and international human rights obligations.

In a press statement signed by its Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Okey James Ezugwu, Esq., a Legal Practitioner and Assistant Comptroller General of Immigration Service (retired), ARRA said it is “gravely concerned over the ongoing denial of identity document renewals and the increasing persecution of residents of Ghanaian descent in The Gambia, particularly the long-established community in Ghana Town, Brufut.”

The statement revealed that “reports reaching us confirm that Gambians of Ghanaian descent — many of whom have lived in The Gambia for decades, and whose children and grandchildren know no other homeland — are being denied renewal of their identity documents and effectively rendered stateless. This is unacceptable, unlawful, and dangerous.”

Dr. Ezugwu stressed that The Gambia has clear obligations to protect these residents under continental, regional, and international laws. He explained that “the Government of The Gambia is bound under several continental, regional, and international instruments to protect the rights of all persons within its territory, including residents of Ghanaian descent. These obligations include the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which The Gambia has ratified and which prohibits arbitrary denial of nationality, discrimination, and violations of the right to work, education, and free movement.”

He added that “The Gambia is also bound by the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Establishment, which guarantees citizens of member states the right to enter, reside, and establish themselves in any ECOWAS country without discrimination. In addition, Article 15 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides that everyone has the right to a nationality and must not be arbitrarily deprived of it.”

The statement went further to highlight international standards, noting that “the principles of the 1954 and 1961 UN Statelessness Conventions, though not yet fully domesticated by many African states, establish binding global standards against statelessness. It is, therefore, a breach of both regional and international law for The Gambia to deliberately create conditions that strip an entire community of their legal identity, thereby subjecting them to social exclusion, economic hardship, and the indignity of statelessness.”

On the humanitarian implications, ARRA described a worsening crisis. “Children are already being denied access to education because of the lack of valid identity documents. Young people cannot secure decent jobs or vocational opportunities, leaving them vulnerable to poverty and exploitation. Families cannot access basic services such as healthcare, housing, and financial services. Women and children, in particular, are being exposed to heightened risks of exploitation, human trafficking, and abuse.”

The group also warned of serious political dangers. “This situation threatens Ghana–Gambia bilateral relations and could provoke reprisals from the Government of Ghana, which has a duty to protect the dignity of its diaspora and their descendants. It also risks setting a dangerous precedent for the treatment of Ghanaian descendants in other African countries, undermining regional solidarity and integration. Moreover, it undermines the credibility of The Gambia within ECOWAS and the African Union, both of which are built upon principles of free movement, regional integration, and respect for human rights,” the statement read.

ARRA demanded urgent action, declaring that “in light of these grave concerns, ARRA calls on the Government of The Gambia to immediately cease all discriminatory practices against residents of Ghanaian descent and to reinstate the renewal of their legal identity documents without delay. Where citizenship is contested, appropriate residence documents must be issued to ensure that these individuals can live, work, study, and contribute meaningfully to Gambian society without fear of harassment or expulsion.”

It further urged that “the Gambian government must also ensure that no forced evictions or deportations are carried out against Ghanaian descendants, recognizing that most have no roots to return to in Ghana after generations of settlement. At the same time, The Gambia must urgently initiate dialogue with the Government of Ghana, ECOWAS, and the African Union to find a sustainable, rights-based solution that respects both The Gambia’s sovereignty and its obligations under continental and regional law.”

Looking at long-term solutions, Dr. Ezugwu advised that “The Gambia must amend its nationality laws and strengthen its civil registration systems to ensure that no child born on Gambian soil is left stateless. Such reforms would bring The Gambia into compliance with international best practices and reaffirm its commitment to the protection of human rights.”

In conclusion, ARRA reminded Gambian authorities that “the Ghanaian-descendant community in The Gambia is not an alien presence but a vibrant, integral part of Gambian society, contributing to the fishing, trade, and educational sectors for decades. To now render them stateless is to deny The Gambia’s own history of diversity, solidarity, and Pan-Africanism.”

Dr. Ezugwu issued a final warning: “We caution that continued persecution of Ghanaian descendants may not only provoke diplomatic consequences but also sow division and instability within The Gambia itself. We urge the Gambian authorities to act with urgency, compassion, and responsibility, and to remember that no African should be a foreigner on African soil.”

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