Human Rights Committee of Parliament Urges African Leaders to Address Challenges of Statelessness
The Human Rights Committee of Ghana’s Parliament has called on African Heads of State and Governments to take urgent steps to address the growing issue of statelessness on the continent.
The call was made during the 83rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), held from 2nd to 22nd May 2025 in Banjul, The Gambia.
The ACHPR, a quasi-judicial body, is tasked with promoting and protecting human rights across Africa through investigations, collaboration with national institutions and NGOs, and providing policy recommendations to African governments. The 83rd Session was held under the theme: “Human Rights as an Imperative for People-centered Sustainable Development in Africa.”
Ghana’s Parliamentary Human Rights Committee, chaired by Hon. Francis-Xavier Sosu (MP for Madina) with Hon. Ernest Yaw Anim (MP for Kumawu) as Ranking Member, led the Ghanaian committee to participate in the session.
The committee, newly formed under Order 234 of Ghana’s revised Standing Orders, is mandated to monitor the state’s compliance with national and international human rights obligations, follow up on recommendations from UN and African human rights bodies, and raise public awareness on human rights issues.
The Committee’s participation aligned with Ghana’s commitment to strengthening human rights advocacy and legal protections. The session featured several high-level discussions on key human rights issues affecting the continent, including: Data as a Human Rights Indicator: Experts emphasized the critical role of accurate data in driving equitable development and shaping inclusive policies.
Right to Health: Delegates highlighted access to healthcare—including HIV treatment, prenatal care, and affordability—as essential to sustainable development. Countries were urged to invest more resources into their health sectors.
Inclusive Development: The session underscored the importance of protecting vulnerable populations such as persons with disabilities, women, older persons, prisoners, refugees, and children. States were urged to tackle gender inequality and ensure dignity for all persons.
Justice and Rule of Law: Participants stressed the importance of timely and fair justice systems. Justice, they noted, is not only a human right but also essential for attracting investment and ensuring national development. The threat of corruption and its corrosive impact on judicial processes was also spotlighted.
The Committee drew special attention to the plight of Ghanaians in a Gambian community known as “Ghana Town.” During a fact-finding visit, the delegation discovered that several Ghanaian residents who were granted citizenship by former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh are now stateless, as the current government has refused to renew their documentation. Without Ghanaian or Gambian nationality, these individuals face legal and social exclusion.
The local chief of the community, a Ghanaian by heritage, recounted how he was fined for overstaying his visit to Ghana when he travelled for a family funeral, underscoring the legal limbo in which many of the residents now live.
The Committee described the situation as a violation of the individuals’ right to nationality and documentation. Citing international legal precedents—including the 2005 Yean and Bosico v. Dominican Republic and the 2014 Inter-American Court ruling on stateless persons—they warned that denying citizenship or identity documents amounts to discrimination and breaches of fundamental human rights.
The delegation urged the Government of Ghana, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to investigate the matter and intervene diplomatically.
The Committee also called on Ghana to ratify the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Right to Nationality and the Eradication of Statelessness, which requires ratification by 15 African Union member states to take effect.
According to the UN Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons, states are obligated to issue identity papers and facilitate naturalization processes for stateless individuals residing within their borders.
The Committee emphasized that the right to nationality is central to accessing all other rights, and statelessness remains a major barrier to development and dignity in Africa.
The Committee concluded its advocacy by reaffirming the need for courts across Africa to zealously protect the rights of all persons, regardless of race, gender, creed, or status.
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