National Documentation Packages (NDPs) are lists of public documents that provide information on country conditions. Updates occur on a regular basis.
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Jurisprudential Guides Notes
Jurisprudential Guides Notes
On
July 28, 2022, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being a
Jurisprudential Guide:
-
Decision TC1 05038 – The proper interpretation of the ‘generalized risk’ exception to protection found at subparagraph 97(1)(b)(ii) of the Act, in claims for protection involving allegations of gang-targeting or other acts of criminality.
On
December 22, 2020, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being a
Jurisprudential Guide.
-
Decision MB8-00025 – This Jurisprudential Guide addresses, in applying Article 1E of the Refugee Convention, whether members should consider allegations of risk in a country of residence if they conclude that a refugee claimant has the rights and obligations which are attached to the possession of nationality in that country.
On
July 6, 2018, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being a
Jurisprudential Guide.
-
Decision TB7-19851 – Nigeria – This Jurisprudential Guide addresses internal flight alternatives in major cities in south and central Nigeria for claimants fleeing non-state actors.
Revoked
The country documentation referenced in each of these decisions has been included in s.16 of the updated National Documentation Packages published on July 10, 2018.
On
July 20, 2017, the Chairperson identified the following Refugee Appeal Division decision as being
Jurisprudential Guides.
-
Decision TB7-01837 – Pakistan – Whether the treatment experienced by Ahmadis in Pakistan amounts to persecution, whether state protection is available and whether there is a viable internal flight alternative.
-
Decision MB6-01059/60 – India – Availability of an internal flight alternative in India for claimants from Punjab.
Revoked
-
Decision TB6-11632 – China – Analysis of the efficacy of the Chinese national computer network known as the Golden Shield Project and its impact on whether a person wanted by the authorities can exit China via an airport using a genuine passport.
Revoked
The country documentation referenced in each of these decisions has been included in s.16 of the updated National Documentation Packages published on July 20, 2017.
Back
30 September 2019
GHANA
List of Documents
1.
General Information and Maps
Source:
United Nations. Cartographic Section.
Date of Document:
February 2005
Accessed Date:
23 January 2007
Title:
Ghana. L'Encyclopédie en ligne.
Accessed Date:
8 September 2016
Title:
Ghana. The World Factbook.
Source:
United States. Central Intelligence Agency.
Date of Document:
17 September 2019
Accessed Date:
19 September 2019
Title:
Country Policy and Information Note. Ghana: Female genital mutilation (FGM). Version 1.0.
Source:
United Kingdom. Home Office.
Date of Document:
December 2016
Accessed Date:
4 August 2017
Title:
Country Information and Guidance. Ghana: Sexual orientation and gender identity. Version 1.0.
Source:
United Kingdom. Home Office.
Date of Document:
February 2016
Accessed Date:
28 July 2016
Title:
Ghana. L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde.
Source:
L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde
Date of Document:
9 February 2018
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
Ghana . Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Africa, 2017.
Source:
United States. Social Security Administration .
Date of Document:
September 2017
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
Ghana. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2018.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
13 March 2019
Accessed Date:
19 March 2019
Title:
Ghana. Freedom in the World 2019.
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
Ghana. Amnesty International Report 2017/18: The State of the World's Human Rights.
Source:
Amnesty International
Accessed Date:
5 September 2018
Title:
National report submitted in accordance with paragraph 5 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 16/21
Code:
A/HRC/WG.6/28/GHA/1
Date of Document:
25 August 2017
Accessed Date:
5 September 2018
Title:
Compilation on Ghana
Code:
A/HRC/WG.6/28/GHA/2
Source:
United Nations. Human Rights Council.
Date of Document:
28 August 2017
Accessed Date:
13 September 2018
Title:
Summary of Stakeholders' submissions on Ghana
Code:
A/HRC/WG.6/28/GHA/3
Source:
United Nations. Human Rights Council.
Date of Document:
8 August 2017
Accessed Date:
25 September 2018
Title:
Initial report submitted by Ghana under article 35 of the Convention, due in 2014
Source:
United Nations. Human Rights Council.
Date of Document:
8 March 2019
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
3.
Identification Documents and Citizenship
Title:
Chapter Three: Citizenship. Constitution of the Republic of Ghana (amendment) Act, 1996.
Accessed Date:
30 September 2016
Title:
Update to GHA105228 of 15 July 2015 on the 'Certified Copy of Entry into Registry of Births' certificate, including additional information on its format and security features; whether the format has changed since 2009; authorized ...
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
17 October 2017
Accessed Date:
13 September 2018
Title:
The military identification card, including whether simple soldiers receive a different card than that of higher-ranking military personnel; whether the length of military service is defined by contract; the procedure for resigning without ...
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
3 February 2011
Accessed Date:
19 March 2013
Keywords:
identity documents; military service
Title:
Citizenship Act of 2000
Accessed Date:
29 September 2017
Title:
Ghana. U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
Requirements and procedures for obtaining a passport, both within and outside the country; types of documents accepted as proof of identity and citizenship (2008-2013)
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
3 January 2014
Accessed Date:
22 September 2014
Keywords:
citizenship; identity documents
Title:
Availability of fraudulent identity documents, including instances of officials issuing fraudulent documents, including passports (2008-2013)
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
3 January 2014
Accessed Date:
22 September 2014
Keywords:
corruption; crime; document fraud; identity documents; legislation; statistics
Title:
Requirements and procedures to replace a lost or stolen passport; whether applicants are fingerprinted to determine the issuance of previous passports; whether replacement passports have the same serial number as the one being replaced
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
17 April 2015
Accessed Date:
28 September 2015
Keywords:
document fraud; identity documents; legislation
Title:
Guidelines for Acquiring A Republic of Ghana Passport
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
Requirements and procedures to obtain a voter card; appearance, security features and information indicated on the card, including the voter ID number; incidents of fraud (2015-December 2017)
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
20 December 2017
Accessed Date:
20 September 2018
Title:
Ghana voters ID card: registration, verification and replacement
Date of Document:
1 April 2018
Accessed Date:
23 May 2018
4.
Political Activities and Organizations
Title:
Republic of Ghana. Referendum of 27 December 2018
Source:
International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Election Guide.
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
I. Political Transformation. Transformation Index 2018 Country Report: Ghana
Source:
Bertelsmann Stiftung
Accessed Date:
5 September 2018
Title:
Ghana General Elections of 7 December 2016
Date of Document:
11 April 2017
Accessed Date:
28 September 2017
Title:
Information on changes in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) leadership; treatment of members of the NPP members by authorities, National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters, and intra-party conflict (2014-May 2016)
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
27 May 2016
Accessed Date:
28 September 2016
Title:
Republic of Ghana. Election for President of 7 December 2016.
Source:
International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Election Guide.
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
Republic of Ghana. Election for Ghanaian Parliament of 7 December 2016
Source:
International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Election Guide.
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
5.
Gender, Domestic Violence and Children
Title:
Domestic Violence in Ghana: Incidence, Attitudes, Determinants and Consequences
Source:
Institute of Development Studies et al.
Date of Document:
July 2016
Accessed Date:
8 August 2017
Title:
Ghana. Social Institutions and Gender Index 2019.
Source:
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Accessed Date:
10 January 2019
Title:
Beyond Domestic Violence Laws: Women's Experiences and Perceptions of Protection Services in Ghana
Source:
University of Ghana. Center for Gender Studies and Advocacy.
Date of Document:
6 July 2016
Author:
Akosua Darkwah, Mansah Prah
Accessed Date:
8 August 2017
Title:
Situational Analysis of Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Ghana – Synthesising Data to Identify and Work with the Most Vulnerable Young Women
Source:
United Nations Population Fund; Population Council
Date of Document:
August 2016
Page Numbers:
36-46, 70-92
Accessed Date:
8 August 2017
Title:
National Strategic Framework On Ending Child Marriage In Ghana 2017 – 2026
Source:
Ghana. Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
Date of Document:
November 2016
Accessed Date:
5 September 2018
Title:
Domestic violence, including legislation, state protection and support services (2011-2015)
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
17 September 2015
Accessed Date:
28 September 2015
Keywords:
children; domestic violence; family law; gender-based violence; institutional efficacy; legal system; legislation; marriage; police/security forces; sexual violence; social services; statistics
Title:
Ghana: The Law and FGM
Date of Document:
September 2018
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
Ghana. NGO Assessment of the Implementation UN Human Rights Committee's Recommendations
Source:
Human Rights Advocacy Centre
Date of Document:
January 2019
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
Ghana. State-Sponsored Homophobia 2019
Source:
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association
Date of Document:
20 March 2019
Author:
Lucas Ramón Mendos
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
Human Rights Violations Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) People in Ghana: A Shadow Report
Source:
Solace Brothers Foundation et al.
Date of Document:
May 2016
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
“No Choice but to Deny Who I Am”: Violence and Discrimination against LGBT People in Ghana.
Source:
Human Rights Watch
Date of Document:
8 January 2018
Accessed Date:
5 September 2018
Title:
Ghana. Criminalises Sex Between Men.
Source:
Human Dignity Trust
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
UN Expert Spotlights LGBT Poverty in Ghana
Source:
Human Rights Watch
Date of Document:
26 June 2018
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
7.
Criminality and Corruption
Title:
Ghana. 2019 OSAC Crime and Safety Report.
Source:
United States. Overseas Security Advisory Council.
Date of Document:
29 April 2019
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
2019 Trafficking in Persons Report: Ghana
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
20 June 2019
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
Conflict Trends (No. 58). Real-Time Analysis of African Political Violence, May 2017. Ghana.
Source:
Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project
Date of Document:
May 2017
Accessed Date:
28 September 2017
8.
Military Service - (No items in this section)
9.
Judiciary, Legal and Penal Systems - (No items in this section)
10.
Police and Security Forces - (No items in this section)
Title:
Ghana. Freedom of the Press 2017.
Accessed Date:
5 September 2018
Title:
2018 Report on International Religious Freedom: Ghana
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
21 June 2019
Accessed Date:
9 September 2019
Title:
Presence of cults or sects and consequences for refusing to join a cult; government attitude or response towards cults and/or any abuses committed by sect members (2004 - 2006)
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
11 October 2006
Accessed Date:
19 March 2013
Keywords:
religion; tribes/clans
Title:
Trokosi: Slave to the Gods. Tradition and Culture in Africa: Practices that Facilitate Trafficking of Women and Children.
Source:
Dignity: A Journal on Sexual Exploitation and Violence
Date of Document:
January 2017
Accessed Date:
8 August 2017
13.
Nationality, Ethnicity and Race
Title:
Consequences of refusing a fetish priest or chieftancy position, and whether there is state protection available
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
16 August 2012
Accessed Date:
19 March 2013
Keywords:
ethnic and national groups; religion; tribes/clans
Title:
Information on the chieftaincy dispute in Bimbilla, including the process for choosing a chief (1999-April 2017)
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
26 April 2017
Accessed Date:
15 September 2017
Title:
State involvement in chieftaincy matters, such as blood rituals for deceased chiefs and their successors, including legislation; consequences of divulging a secret ritual to another member of the same ethnic group, including the Kotokoli in the ...
Source:
Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
Date of Document:
2 May 2017
Accessed Date:
15 September 2017
14.
Exit/Entry and Freedom of Movement - (No items in this section)
15.
Labour, Employment and Unions - (No items in this section)
16.
Other - (No items in this section)
The following changes have been made to the previous package dated 29 March 2019:
Title:
Ghana. The World Factbook.
Source:
United States. Central Intelligence Agency.
Date of Document:
19 September 2018
URL:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gh.html
Accessed Date:
25 September 2018
Title:
Ghana. Freedom in the World 2018.
URL:
https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2018/ghana
Accessed Date:
5 September 2018
Title:
Ghana. U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
URL:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Ghana.html
Accessed Date:
5 September 2018
Title:
Guidelines for Acquiring A Republic of Ghana Passport
URL:
https://passport.mfa.gov.gh/guidelines
Accessed Date:
5 September 2018
Title:
Ghana. Social Institutions and Gender Index 2014.
Source:
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
URL:
http://www.genderindex.org/country/ghana
Accessed Date:
16 September 2015
Keywords:
children; domestic violence; ethnic and national groups; family law; female genital mutilation; freedom of assembly; freedom of movement; gender equality; gender-based violence; institutional efficacy; judicial efficacy; labour; legal system; legislation; marriage; medical records; minorities; police efficacy; police/security forces; religion; sexual minorities; sexual violence; social services; statistics
Title:
Ghana. State-Sponsored Homophobia 2017: A world survey of sexual orientation laws: criminalisation, protection and recognition.
Source:
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association
Date of Document:
May 2017
Author:
Aengus Carroll; Lucas Ramón Mendos
URL:
http://ilga.org/downloads/2017/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2017_WEB.pdf
Accessed Date:
28 September 2017
Title:
Human Rights Violations Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) People in Ghana: A Shadow Report
Source:
Solace Brothers Foundation et al.
Date of Document:
August 2015
URL:
http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CCPR/Shared%20Documents/GHA/INT_CCPR_ICO_GHA_21415_E.pdf
Accessed Date:
28 July 2016
Title:
Ghana. Criminalisation of Homosexuality.
Source:
Human Dignity Trust
Date of Document:
25 October 2015
URL:
http://www.humandignitytrust.org/uploaded/Map/Country_Reports/Ghana.pdf
Accessed Date:
28 July 2016
Title:
Ghana. 2018 OSAC Crime and Safety Report.
Source:
United States. Overseas Security Advisory Council.
Date of Document:
25 May 2018
URL:
https://www.osac.gov/Content/Report/b29a2d2d-dd22-4bf9-9231-15f4ae754d91
Accessed Date:
5 September 2018
Title:
Ghana: Tier 2. Trafficking in Persons Report 2018.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
June 2018
URL:
https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-trafficking-in-persons-report/ghana/
Accessed Date:
5 September 2018
Title:
Ghana. International Religious Freedom Report for 2017.
Source:
United States. Department of State.
Date of Document:
29 May 2018
URL:
https://www.state.gov/reports/2017-report-on-international-religious-freedom/ghana/
Accessed Date:
5 September 2018
Title:
Ghana. Parliament.
Source:
Inter-Parliamentary Union. Parline.
Date of Document:
30 January 2017
URL:
http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2123.htm
Accessed Date:
4 August 2017
Title:
Ghana. L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde.
Source:
L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde
Date of Document:
9 February 2018
URL:
http://www.axl.cefan.ulaval.ca/afrique/ghana.htm
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
Ghana . Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Africa, 2017.
Source:
United States. Social Security Administration .
Date of Document:
September 2017
URL:
https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/progdesc/ssptw/2016-2017/africa/ghana.html
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
Initial report submitted by Ghana under article 35 of the Convention, due in 2014
Source:
United Nations. Human Rights Council.
Date of Document:
8 March 2019
URL:
https://undocs.org/en/CRPD/C/GHA/1
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
Ghana voters ID card: registration, verification and replacement
Date of Document:
1 April 2018
URL:
https://yen.com.gh/108584-ghana-voters-id-card-registration-verification-replacement.html#108584
Accessed Date:
23 May 2018
Title:
Republic of Ghana. Referendum of 27 December 2018
Source:
International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Election Guide.
URL:
http://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/3203/
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
Republic of Ghana. Election for President of 7 December 2016.
Source:
International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Election Guide.
URL:
http://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/2579/
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
Republic of Ghana. Election for Ghanaian Parliament of 7 December 2016
Source:
International Foundation for Electoral Systems. Election Guide.
URL:
http://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/2580/
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
Ghana: The Law and FGM
Date of Document:
September 2018
URL:
https://www.28toomany.org/static/media/uploads/Law%20Reports/ghana_law_report_v1_(september_2018).pdf
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
Ghana. NGO Assessment of the Implementation UN Human Rights Committee's Recommendations
Source:
Human Rights Advocacy Centre
Date of Document:
January 2019
URL:
https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CCPR/Shared%20Documents/GHA/INT_CCPR_NGS_GHA_33446_E.pdf
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Title:
UN Expert Spotlights LGBT Poverty in Ghana
Source:
Human Rights Watch
Date of Document:
26 June 2018
URL:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/06/26/un-expert-spotlights-lgbt-poverty-ghana
Accessed Date:
6 September 2019
Disclaimer
National Documentation Packages (NDPs) include country-of-origin information that is publicly accessible at the time of publication and available within time constraints. While the Research Directorate strives to maintain the
NDP with current information, the research is not exhaustive and country conditions can change rapidly. Members of the public are invited to
suggest documents they feel are relevant to the
NDP.
NDPs are not, and do not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Rather, they are intended to support the refugee determination process. The assessment and weight to be given to the information in the
NDPs are the responsibility of independent
IRB members (decision-makers) after considering the evidence and arguments presented by the parties.
All sources are fully cited, including a hyperlink, to facilitate the location of the information. The
IRB will attempt to ensure that these links are maintained for the most recent
NDP. It cannot guarantee or be responsible for:
- the functionality of links to external sources,
- the content accessed by these links,
- the availability of external content in both English and French,
- any other part of a third party website.
The information presented in
NDPs solely reflects the views and perspectives of the sources cited and does not necessarily reflect the position of the
IRB or the Government of Canada.