NIA sues 7 Nigerians over attempted illegal Ghana card registration

The National Identification Authority (NIA) has intensified efforts to clamp down on foreign nationals trying to unlawfully register for the Ghana Card, warning that such acts will not go unpunished.

According to the NIA, the latest action comes in response to numerous tips from concerned citizens and financial institutions, who have flagged suspicious attempts by non-Ghanaians to infiltrate the national identification database.

Already, one individual has been convicted and is currently serving an eight-month sentence. Thirteen additional cases — including one involving seven Nigerian nationals — are now under investigation, with prosecutions underway.

“We’ve got reports from individuals, some financial institutions and well-meaning Ghanaians that some foreigners in the past few weeks have been scanning our registration centres to ostensibly get access onto our citizen register. As we speak we’ve been able to convict one who is serving 8 months jail term. We have thirteen more cases under active investigation. Just last week, we went to the Dansoman Circuit Court with about 7 Nigerians who attempted to register for the citizen card. God willing on 6th August, Wednesday, we are reappearing with them, and we’re hopeful we’ll get conviction and convict these guys to prison. All the convictions after they are done serving their terms, they will be deported to their home countries,” said Williams Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, Head of Corporate Affairs at the NIA.

With the Ghana Card now a key document for accessing a range of essential services, the NIA says safeguarding its integrity is a matter of national security. In light of the rising threat, security measures at registration centres have been significantly heightened.

The Authority is also calling on the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior around registration centres, emphasizing that the fight to protect the country’s identity system is a collective responsibility.