A man who posed as an official of the National Identification Authority (NIA) to defraud members of the public has been sentenced to 30 days in prison.
The Gbese District Court in Accra convicted Fidelis Samuel Mensah on his own plea for charges of stealing and defrauding by false pretences.
Investigations revealed that Mensah targeted applicants at the NIA Regional Office in Accra, falsely offering to help with Ghana Card registration and update services.
Under this pretext, he unlawfully obtained cash, mobile phones, and personal documents from unsuspecting victims who believed he could facilitate their registration processes.
His scheme came to an end following a joint intelligence-led operation by the NIA Police Investigation Unit and NIA staff, which led to his arrest.
During court proceedings, he pleaded guilty and was subsequently convicted and sentenced.
Following the court ruling, the NIA has issued a warning to the public to remain vigilant and to only deal with authorised officials at designated service points.
Citizens are advised against making payments or handing over personal belongings and documents to unauthorised individuals claiming to offer registration assistance
