Mason jailed 20 days for aiding Nigerian to acquire Ghanaian passport

The Kaneshie District Court has sentenced a 28-year-old mason to 20 days imprisonment for aiding a Nigerian to acquire a Ghanaian passport.

Joseph Awuah, would also pay a fine of GHC2, 400.00 or in default serve 30 days imprisonment.

Awuah was charged with abetment of crime to  attempting to obtain Ghanaian passport through false declaration.

Awuah pleaded guilty before the Court presided over by Ms. Rosemond Egyiri which convicted him on his own plea and sentenced him accordingly.

Prosecuting, Chief Superintendent of Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Mr. Adolf Asenso-Aboagye, said Awuah was arrested by the GIS Takoradi Command for aiding one Wisdom Eugene Iyamu, a Nigerian to attempt to procure a Ghanaian passport.

According to Chief Supt Asenso-Aboagye, investigations revealed that Joseph met Wisdom and one Kelly at Arvo Hotel in Takoradi and the said Kelly enquired from Joseph if he could assist Wisdom to acquire a Ghanaian passport.

The prosecution said Kelly then gave Joseph GHC550.00 to start the processing of the passport.

He said Joseph then bought a passport form and booked an appointment in the name of Anthony Kwarteng for Wisdom.

He said Wisdom, Kelly and Joseph proceeded to the Passport Application Centre in Accra, where Wisdom was nabbed by the GIS officials.

The prosecution said Joseph and Kelly absconded.

He said Joseph was put under surveillance and was picked up at a cybercafé at Takoradi while processing other applicants’ forms.

Iyamu pleaded guilty to all three charges and the Court and convicted him on all the three charges.

On the charge of illegal entry, the Court ordered Iyamu to pay a fine of GH¢840.00 or in default serve two weeks imprisonment.

The Court also ordered him to pay GH¢960.00 or in default serve two weeks imprisonment on the charge of attempting to obtain a Ghanaian passport.

For the possession and use of false certificate to get a Ghanaian Birth Certificate, the Court further ordered Iyamu to pay a GH¢840.00 or in default serve two weeks imprisonment.
The sentences will run concurrently.

According to the prosecution, Iyamu was born at Agbor in the Delta State and that he came to Ghana through an unapproved route at Ghana’s Eastern Border (Aflao).

The prosecution said Iyamu in his cautioned statement said he obtained a Ghanaian passport and birth certificate through a friend while he was in Spain.

He said Iyamu managed to return to Nigeria on holidays but his Ghanaian passport got missing so he decided to procure a new one.