A man who impersonated an employee of the National Identification Authority (NIA) and defrauded unsuspecting members of the public seeking Ghana Card services has been sentenced to 30 days’ imprisonment by the Gbese District Court.
According to a statement issued by the NIA on Thursday, June 25, the convict, Fidelis Samuel Mensah, was found guilty of posing as a staff member of the Authority and deceiving applicants at the NIA Regional Office in Accra.
Investigations conducted by the NIA revealed that Mensah fraudulently offered to assist members of the public with Ghana Card registration and card update services. Through these false representations, he unlawfully collected cash, mobile phones, and personal documents from several victims.
The Authority disclosed that Mensah was apprehended through a joint operation involving personnel from the NIA Police Investigation Unit and NIA staff following multiple complaints regarding his activities.
Subsequently, he was arraigned before the Gbese District Court, where he pleaded guilty to charges of stealing and defrauding by false pretences.
“He pleaded guilty to charges of stealing and defrauding by false pretences and was convicted on his own plea,” the NIA stated.
The court thereafter sentenced him to 30 days’ imprisonment.
The NIA has meanwhile cautioned the public against engaging the services of unauthorized individuals who claim to facilitate Ghana Card registration, replacement, or update processes.
“The NIA urges the public to remain vigilant and deal only with authorised officials at designated service points,” the statement emphasized.
The Authority further assured the public of its commitment to protecting the integrity of the Ghana Card registration process and warned that anyone found engaging in fraudulent activities would face the full rigours of the law.
