The National Identification Authority (NIA) of Ghana announced it will begin prosecuting citizens who unlawfully vouch for foreign nationals seeking to obtain the country’s national identification card, known as the Ghana Card.
The move comes amid growing concerns over the abuse of the vouching process—a provision in the registration system that allows a Ghanaian citizen to confirm the nationality of another person applying for the ID.
Speaking at a press conference on August 4, Williams Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, Head of Corporate Affairs at the NIA, confirmed that legal proceedings are already underway against several individuals.
“Out of the 20 people currently being prosecuted, some are Ghanaians who vouched for foreign nationals,” Mr. Darlas said. “Our system makes it very easy to identify such individuals.”
He added that some citizens have turned the process into a commercial venture, endorsing individuals they do not personally know in exchange for payment. “To those of you vouching for people you don’t even know—just to make money—be warned: we are coming for you,” he said.
The Ghana Card is a mandatory biometric ID used for a wide range of services, including banking, voting, and public benefits. Authorities say safeguarding the registration process is critical to national security and institutional integrity.
The NIA urged the public to report suspicious activity and reiterated its commitment to upholding the credibility of the country’s identity system.
