Gambia: NHRC Asks Govt to Make IDs, Passports Affordable
Published: 17/Jun/2022
Source: The Point (Banjul)
By Ali Jaw
The Nation Human Rights Commission has called on government of The Gambia to make costs of the national identity cards and passports more affordable for average Gambians.
This call by the rights commission came years after an intense debate across the country, following the introduction of the new ECOWAS Identity Card, whose total transaction costs up to 500 dalasis.
“Section 26 and 39 of the 1997 Constitution protects political rights and the rights to vote and be registered respectively. To fulfill these rights, the Independent Electoral Commission oversaw successful voter registration, political campaign and elections in December 2021,” NHRC stated in its 2021 State of Human Rights Report.
“The issuance of attestation proving Gambian nationality and citizenship by Alkalolu and the authority to do so culminated in accusations and the counter accusations between sympathizers of different political parties as they accused each other of using influence over the Alkalolu to register unqualified individuals to boost the numerical advantage of registered followers.”
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The Commission has also asked government to enhance access to immigration services for citizens to acquire their required national documents and to also make the issuance of birth certificates compulsory upon birth at all health centres.
The NHRC has also thought it wise that The Gambia government should conduct adequate sensitisation on importance of birth registration, issuance of birth certificates, age for voter registration and citizenship requirements across the country, especially in rural communities.
Read further: https://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/national-news/nhrc-asks-govt-to-make-ids-passports-affordable-to-gambians