The Madina District Court II has handed down sentences of 12 months imprisonment each to two Nigerian nationals for trying to obtain Ghana Cards by employing fake identities.
The individuals convicted, Ike Isaac, who also goes by the name Alex Kwesi Brown Appiah, aged 20, and Emmanuel Innocent Egbe, who also goes by the name Innocent Emmanuel Kodom, aged 24, were determined to be guilty of supplying false information to officials of the Ghana National Identification Authority (NIA) and of being in possession of forged documents.
The judge who presided over the matter, Judge Susana Nyakotey, found the two men guilty after a complete trial that concluded on Friday, November 7, 2025.
The National Identification Authority (NIA) officially verified the conviction through a statement released on Thursday, November 13.
They faced charges of Providing False Information to National Identification Registration Officials under Section 40(1)(a) of the National Identity Register Act, 2008 (Act 750), as well as Possessing Forged Documents under Section 166 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
According to the court’s judgment, each of them received a sentence of 12 months imprisonment on the count of providing false information and 13 months imprisonment on the count of possessing forged documents, with both sentences ordered to run concurrently.
They are scheduled to be deported back to Nigeria without delay upon completion of their prison terms and have already been transferred to the custody of the Nsawam Prisons Authority to commence serving their sentences.
In its statement, the NIA expressed appreciation to the Ghana Police Service, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Unit that is attached to the NIA, and the Office of the Attorney-General for the important roles they played in achieving these convictions.
“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,” the NIA said.
The Authority issued a strong warning that submitting false information, engaging in impersonation, and utilising forged documents constitute serious criminal offences, while pledging to maintain close collaboration with security agencies and judicial bodies in order to detect, investigate, and prosecute anyone who attempts to compromise the system.
It further reminded members of the public that the Ghana Card functions not only as an official national identity document but also as the essential foundation for accessing government services, conducting financial transactions, and ensuring national security, stressing that preserving its credibility remains a shared responsibility for everyone.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
