Adopting a national plan of action to end statelessness in Ghana
Published: 6/Mar/2016
Source: Ghana News Agency
Accra, March 6, GNA – It would be useful, perhaps, to attempt a definition of the term ‘Statelessness’ before delving into the main discussion of this write-up. Simply put, Statelessness refers to a situation whereby an individual residing in a state is denied all the privileges and rights given to its citizens because he or she has no documentation to prove that he or she is a citizen.
About a year ago, at the first Ministerial Regional Conference on Statelessness in West Africa held in Abidjan in February 2015, Ghana committed to accede to the two Statelessness Conventions by the end of 2016.
The Abidjan declaration was adopted by Heads of State and Governments of member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on May 19, 2015 in Accra under the chairmanship of Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama.
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In his remarks at a day’s workshop on statelessness involving various stakeholders at Ho in December 2015, Mr James Agalga, the Deputy Minister for the Interior said the issue of statelessness is ‘a serious human rights as well as a developmental issue which demands national attention’.
The workshop formed part of a consultative process expected to lead to the adoption of a national plan of action to end statelessness.
The Deputy Minister was of the view that ending statelessness will go a long way to contribute towards the realization of the ultimate objectives of the sustainable development goals which require legal identity for all including birth registration.
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Read further: http://www.ghananewsagency.org/features/adopting-a-national-plan-of-action-to-end-statelessness-in-ghana–101245