Court sentences Nigerian woman to six months for passport fraud in Accra
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has secured the conviction of a 41-year-old Nigerian woman for allegedly trying to obtain a Ghanaian passport with forged nationality documents.
The woman, identified as Franca Wilson, pleaded guilty before the Adabraka District Court in Accra on May 12, 2026. She was sentenced to six months in prison with hard labour on three separate charges, with all sentences to run concurrently.
According to the GIS, Wilson, who works as a welder, was arrested on April 24, 2026, at the Accra Passport Application Centre after immigration officers noticed discrepancies in the nationality information she provided during the verification process.
She was later handed over to the National Enforcement Department at the GIS Headquarters for further investigations.
Investigators established that Wilson is a Nigerian national born in River State to Nigerian parents. However, she allegedly submitted a forged birth certificate claiming she was born in Somanya in the Eastern Region to a Ghanaian mother.
The GIS said she could not provide reliable details about the supposed Ghanaian parent during questioning.
“She was arrested on April 24, 2026, at the Accra Passport Application Centre after alert officers detected inconsistencies in her nationality claims during the vetting process. She was subsequently referred to the National Enforcement Department at the GIS Headquarters for further investigations,” the Service stated.
Further inquiries revealed that Wilson had allegedly acquired a fake birth certificate bearing Entry No. 310 as well as a Ghana Card with ID number GHA-731395447-1 through an agent.
The Service added that the same agent reportedly handled her online passport application and scheduled her appointment at the passport application centre.
In her caution statement, Wilson admitted to committing the offences, according to the GIS.
The Ghana Immigration Service also warned the public, especially foreign nationals, against dealing with individuals who falsely claim they can secure Ghanaian identity or travel documents through unlawful means.
The Service stressed that fraudulently obtaining Ghanaian identification or travel documents is a serious offence under the country’s laws and offenders would face strict punishment.
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