CHRAJ urges humane treatment of undocumented migrants amid GIS operations
CHRAJ argues that while Ghana has the sovereign right to determine who resides within its borders, a right recognised under the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), this must be balanced with obligations under both domestic and international human rights frameworks
The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has called on the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) to ensure the humane and dignified treatment of undocumented migrants during ongoing enforcement operations.
In a statement issued by the Commission, CHRAJ acknowledged recent operations carried out by GIS to remove undocumented migrants from the streets of Accra and other cities, which have been widely reported in the media.
The Commission commended GIS for acting to address what it described as a disturbing situation, but cautioned that such actions risk portraying Ghana in a negative light internationally.
CHRAJ stressed that while Ghana has the sovereign right to determine who resides within its borders, a right recognised under the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), this must be balanced with obligations under both domestic and international human rights frameworks.
The Commission referenced Chapter 5 of the 1992 Constitution, the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, and the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement, underscoring that even undocumented migrants are entitled to fundamental human rights protections.
“Whilst the issue at hand remains extremely concerning for public order, health and safety,” the statement read, “government’s decision to send back undocumented migrants where necessary should be done in a humane and dignified manner.”
CHRAJ further recommended that deportations be considered on a case-by-case basis to prevent violations of the international legal principle of non-refoulement — which prohibits returning individuals to countries where they may face persecution or harm.
The Commission’s intervention highlights the complex balance Ghana must strike between maintaining border security and upholding its human rights obligations.
Read the statement in full below:
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