Summary
In Ghana Town, The Gambia, many people live without citizenship or legal documents, creating challenges in education and business. The area's residents, mostly descendants of Ghanaian fishermen, face significant difficulties obtaining Gambian nationality due to citizenship laws requiring at least one parent to be Gambian.
Key Facts
- Ghana Town is home to about 900 residents, with 850 lacking citizenship or identification documents.
- The town was founded by Ghanaian fishermen in the late 1950s.
- Without national IDs, children cannot attend free public schools and must attend private ones.
- Gambian law requires at least one parent to be Gambian to confer citizenship by birth.
- Many residents have repeatedly failed to obtain ID cards due to their classification as non-Gambian at birth.
- The situation has persisted for generations, affecting thousands of town residents.
- The inability to secure citizenship affects everyday activities, such as registering businesses.
