The Kaneshie Police have arrested a staff of the National Identification Authority (NIA) for allegedly registering two Nigerians in the ongoing national identification registration exercise at Abossey Okai in Accra.
Timothy Wuni, 26, a Data Input Officer of the NIA at Abossey Okai Central Mosque registration centre was reported to have taken GH¢60 from a former staff to assist in the registration of Alhassan Abdul Samed and Abubakar Ruali.
The Public Relations Officer of the Accra Regional Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Effia Tenge confirmed the story. She said on May 6, this year during the registration exercise, Wuni was spotted by his supervisor (name withheld) trying to enter onto the NIA system, the names of Samed and Ruali, suspected to be Nigerians.
She said upon interrogation the two applicants bolted, but Wuni was apprehended.
DSP Tenge said during interrogation, Wuni stated that a former staff by name Moro offered him GH¢60 and referred the applicants to him to assist in their registration of the Ghana cards for them.
She said two separate filled national identification forms with particulars of the Nigerians were currently with the police.
DSP Tenge said the police have started a search for the Nigerians, adding that investigations into the case were ongoing.
She said the Wuni would soon be arraigned. DSP Tenge called on the public to alert the police of any suspicious move during the ongoing registration.
Under the laws of Ghana, the NIA is mandated to register both citizens and non-citizens to create, maintain, provide and promote the use of national ID cards in order to advance economic, political and social activities in the country.
The differentiation features on the Ghana Card for Ghanaians and foreign nationals are the nationality code in the Personal Identification Number (PIN).
However, if a foreigner misrepresents himself or herself to the NIA during the registration process, the Ghana Card issued to that individual would bear the Ghana code.
That is an offence under section 40 (1) (a) of the National Identity Register Act, 2008 (Act 750) and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than 250 penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not more than two years or to both. A penalty unit is GH¢12.
