The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has issued a stern warning to foreign nationals residing in Ghana, following the sentencing of two foreigners for attempting to acquire Ghanaian citizenship through illegal means.
The offenders, Nwachen Edwin Ndum, a Cameroonian also known as Mensah Edwin, and Samuel Sagbo, a Togolese, were found guilty of entering Ghana illegally and attempting to secure Ghanaian birth certificates and Ghana cards, which would have enabled them to obtain Ghanaian passports.
Both individuals have been sentenced to 36 months of imprisonment with hard labor.
Assistant Commissioner of Immigration, Mr. Michael Amoako-Atta, the Head of Public Relations for GIS, emphasized in a statement that the agency has noticed a troubling increase in such offenses.
“The GIS again would like to caution Ghanaians against assisting non-Ghanaians to obtain citizenship documents such as birth certificates, Ghana cards, or Ghana passports,” Amoako-Atta said.
He warned of the serious implications on national sovereignty and security, stressing that anyone found aiding such illegal activities would face the full rigors of the law.
The GIS reiterated its commitment to maintaining strict enforcement of immigration regulations.
The agency assured the public that it remains resolute in its mandate to protect the integrity of Ghana’s immigration system, vowing not to compromise in the fight against illegal acquisition of citizenship.
This crackdown is part of a broader effort to uphold the nation’s security and sovereignty.