Court fines Togolese national for attempting to obtain Ghanaian passport
The Adabraka District Court has fined a Togolese national 200 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢2,400, for attempting to obtain a Ghanaian passport through false declarations.
The convict, Ayim Wakilu, pleaded guilty to attempting to obtain a Ghanaian passport by false declaration, obtaining a Ghanaian birth certificate by false declaration, obtaining a Ghana Card by false declaration, and illegal entry into Ghana.
The court, presided over by Madam N.A.A. Owusu-Amenyo, imposed fines of 50 penalty units, 200 penalty units, 200 penalty units and 50 penalty units, respectively, on the four charges.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
In default of payment, Wakilu will serve two months’ imprisonment with hard labour.
Assistant Superintendent of Immigration (ASI) Gillian Biney, prosecuting, told the court that Wakilu, 33, is a vulcaniser.
He was arrested on May 15, 2026, at the Accra Passport Application Centre while undergoing the process of acquiring a Ghanaian passport after officers became suspicious about his nationality.
He was subsequently referred to the National Reinforcement Section at the Ghana Immigration Service Headquarters for further investigations, prosecution said.
Investigations revealed that the birth certificate he presented indicated that he was born at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in the Greater Accra Region to Mr Sule Ayim and Madam Afua Kuple, both purportedly Ghanaians.
However, Wakilu was unable to lead investigators to the said parents.
Further investigations established that he was born in Togo to parents of Togolese origin and that the information contained in the Ghanaian birth certificate was false.
The prosecution said Wakilu obtained a Ghana Card in 2020 and engaged a self-styled agent who assisted him to acquire the birth certificate in 2019.
The same agent reportedly completed an online passport application form and secured an appointment for him to finalise the passport acquisition process.
ASI Biney said Wakilu was arrested during the vetting process. Further investigations revealed that he entered Ghana through an unauthorised route near the Aflao border in 2018 and had remained in the country without any immigration permit.
The convict admitted the offences in his cautioned statement, the prosecution said.
Following investigations, Wakilu was arraigned.
Source: GNA