By Desire Emmanuel, with Agency Reports
The Madina District Court II in Ghana has sentenced two Nigerian nationals to 12 months imprisonment each for attempting to obtain Ghana Cards using forged documents and fake identities
The convicts, identified as Ike Isaac, also known as Alex Kwesi Brown Appiah, aged 20, and Emmanuel Innocent Egbe, also known as Innocent Emmanuel Kodom, aged 24, were found guilty of providing false information to registration officials of the National Identification Authority (NIA) and possessing forged documents.
The trial judge, Susana Nyakotey, convicted the two after a full trial on charges of Providing false Information to National Identification Registration Officials, contrary to Section 40 (1)(a) of the National Identity Register Act, 2008 (Act 750), and possessing forged documents, contrary to Section 166 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
According to the judgment, both offenders were sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for providing false information and 13 months for possessing forged documents, with the sentences to run concurrently.
The court also ordered that they be deported to Nigeria immediately after serving their prison terms. The convicts have since been handed over to the Nsawam Prisons Authority to begin their sentences.
In a statement issued, the NIA commended the Ghana Police Service, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Unit attached to the NIA, and the Office of the Attorney-General for their collaboration and support in securing the convictions.
The authorities said the prosecution demonstrates its resolve to uphold the sanctity of the Ghana Card registration system, which serves as the single credible source of identity for all lawful residents in the country.
“This conviction reaffirms our commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the Ghana Card registration process as the single credible source of identity for all lawful residents,” authorities said.
The NIA cautioned that false information, impersonation, and the use of forged documents constitute serious criminal offences,” the statement said.
It further assured the public that it would continue to work closely with security and judicial agencies to detect, investigate, and prosecute offenders who attempt to undermine the system.
