A man who falsely posed as an official of the National Identification Authority to defraud unsuspecting members of the public has been sentenced to 30 days’ imprisonment by a court.
The convict was found guilty of impersonation and obtaining money under false pretences after presenting himself as an NIA staff member and promising to facilitate the processing of Ghana Cards for victims in exchange for money.
According to the prosecution, the accused approached several individuals and convinced them that he could expedite their registration and card issuance processes through his alleged connections within the NIA.
Believing his claims, the victims reportedly paid various sums of money to him. However, investigations later revealed that he was neither an employee nor an authorised agent of the National Identification Authority.
The matter was reported to the police after some of the victims became suspicious when their cards failed to materialise despite repeated assurances from the suspect.
Following investigations, the accused was arrested and subsequently arraigned before the court.
Prosecutors told the court that the suspect deliberately misrepresented himself as an NIA official with the intention of deceiving members of the public and unlawfully obtaining money from them.
The court, after considering the evidence presented, convicted him and sentenced him to 30 days in prison.
The presiding judge noted that impersonation of public officials undermines confidence in state institutions and warned that such acts would not be tolerated.
The court further urged members of the public to conduct official transactions only through recognised government offices and authorised personnel.
Meanwhile, the National Identification Authority has cautioned Ghanaians against dealing with middlemen who claim they can fast-track registration services for a fee.
The Authority reiterated that all Ghana Card registration and related services are conducted through approved channels and advised the public to report suspicious individuals to law enforcement agencies.
