Nigerian woman jailed for using forged documents to obtain Ghanaian passport

A 41-year-old Nigerian woman has been sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labour after she was caught attempting to fraudulently obtain a Ghanaian passport using forged identity documents, according to the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS).

The convict, Franca Wilson, a welder by profession, pleaded guilty before the Adabraka District Court in Accra on May 12, 2026, where she was convicted on three separate charges. The court ordered that all sentences run concurrently.

According to the Ghana Immigration Service, Wilson’s arrest followed a routine vetting exercise conducted at the Accra Passport Application Centre (PAC) on April 24, 2026. During the verification process, immigration officers reportedly detected inconsistencies in her nationality claims and supporting documentation.

She was subsequently transferred to the National Enforcement Department at the GIS Headquarters for detailed investigations into the suspected fraud.

Investigators later established that Franca Wilson is a Nigerian citizen born in Rivers State to Nigerian parents. However, in her attempt to acquire a Ghanaian passport, she allegedly presented a forged birth certificate claiming she was born in Somanya to a Ghanaian mother.

According to the GIS, Wilson was unable to provide convincing details or evidence to support her claims when questioned by investigators.

Authorities further discovered that she had allegedly obtained a fraudulent birth certificate identified as Entry No. 310, as well as a Ghana Card bearing ID number GHA-731395447-1 through the assistance of an unidentified agent.

The agent is also alleged to have completed her online passport application and secured an appointment on her behalf at the passport office.

In her caution statement to investigators, Wilson reportedly admitted to the offences and acknowledged her involvement in the fraudulent attempt to acquire Ghanaian identity and travel documents.

Following the conviction, the Ghana Immigration Service issued a strong warning to foreign nationals and the general public against engaging middlemen or unauthorised agents who promise to facilitate access to Ghanaian passports, birth certificates, or national identity cards through illegal means.

“Attempts to fraudulently acquire Ghanaian identity or travel documents constitute serious offences under the laws of Ghana and will attract severe sanctions,” the GIS stated.

The Service reiterated its commitment to tightening security and verification procedures within Ghana’s passport and identity management systems to combat document fraud, identity theft, and illegal migration activities.

The case has once again highlighted growing concerns over forged identity documents and the activities of fraudulent agents operating within sections of Ghana’s documentation and immigration systems.

Security analysts say the conviction sends a strong signal about the government’s determination to protect the integrity of Ghanaian citizenship and official travel documents.