By: Binta Jaiteh
Honorable Musa Badjie and Abdoulie Ceesay, National Assembly Members for Tallinding Kunjang and Old Yundum, firmly asserted that the non-issuance of national documents to Ghanaians living in Ghana Town constitutes a blatant violation of human rights.
Their concerns were raised during a presentation by The Gambia Immigration Department, which provided a data analysis of the refugee situation in Ghana Town to Parliament’s Select Committee on Health, Disaster, Humanitarian Relief, and Refugees.
Hon. Ceesay, who represented the chairperson of Parliament’s Health Committee, Amadou Camara, demanded to know why the government or the immigration department has not acted to expel individuals who are denied citizenship.
“These individuals deserve to be citizens. The government has allowed them to remain in the country for over 20 years; therefore, it must be prepared to grant them citizenship. This situation is an egregious violation of their human rights,” Ceesay declared.
He emphasized that the immigration department and the Commission on Refugees have fulfilled their responsibilities, and lawmakers now must take decisive action. “The number of affected individuals is on the rise, and it is utterly unacceptable to consider sending them back to countries they no longer know,” he stated.
Hon.Ceesay further questioned how these individuals access hospitals and schools without proper documentation. “If we truly believe in human rights as a nation, this issue must be rectified immediately. The immigration department is working diligently for the country, but they cannot succeed when legal barriers prevent them from doing their jobs. We, as lawmakers, must dismantle these barriers,” he insisted.
He asserted that the issue of citizenship requires urgent national dialogue, approached with clear reasoning rather than emotional rhetoric. “As the number of undocumented individuals rises, their presence could dominate communities without any legal recognition, which is unacceptable,” Ceesay warned.
He underscored that lawmakers would have extensive questions for the Minister regarding this critical issue.
Hon. Musa Badjie, the lawmaker for Tallinding Kunjang, stated emphatically that nationality is intrinsically tied to documentation. “Anyone who claims these individuals do not deserve citizenship must reevaluate their stance. If they travel to other countries, they will require documentation from those nations. We must prioritize the value of human life,” he asserted.
The lawmaker explained that many individuals born in The Gambia possess the potential to significantly contribute to the nation’s economic development, yet they are unjustly denied national documents due to their parent’s nationality. “Even if we modify our constitution, we must ensure that anyone born in The Gambia is recognized as a Gambian citizen,” he demanded.
Faburama Bojang, a Protection Officer at the Commission, highlighted that many of these individuals are thwarted in their opportunities to travel and better their lives due to their documentation status. They face barriers to enrolling in universities despite their qualifications. “The stories of these individuals are deeply distressing and must be addressed,” he emphasized.
Omar T. Camara, acting Commissioner for refugees, stressed that the situation in Ghana Town is of urgent concern to their department. “I call upon the committee to seriously consider our recommendations and take immediate action to resolve the issues facing Ghana Town,” he stated decisively.