A 41-year-old Nigerian woman has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour for attempting to obtain a Ghanaian passport using forged nationality documents, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has announced.

Franca Wilson pleaded guilty to three counts before the Adabraka District Court in Accra on May 12, 2026. The court ordered that all sentences run concurrently.

Wilson, who works as a welder, was arrested on April 24, 2026, at the Accra Passport Application Centre after immigration officers uncovered inconsistencies in her nationality claims during routine vetting.

She was later handed over to the National Enforcement Department at the GIS Headquarters for detailed investigations.

According to the GIS, investigations confirmed that Wilson is a Nigerian citizen born in Rivers State to Nigerian parents. Despite this, she allegedly presented forged documents, including a birth certificate claiming she was born in Somanya in the Eastern Region to a Ghanaian mother.

Authorities said she could not provide credible information about the supposed Ghanaian parent when questioned.

Investigators further discovered that Wilson had obtained a fraudulent birth certificate with Entry No. 310 and a Ghana Card bearing ID number GHA-731395447-1 through an intermediary.

The GIS also disclosed that the same agent assisted her in completing her online passport application and securing an appointment at the passport application centre.

In her caution statement, Wilson admitted to the offences, according to the Service.

The Ghana Immigration Service has since warned the public — especially foreign nationals — against dealing with self-styled agents who promise to secure Ghanaian identity or travel documents through illegal means.

The Service stressed that fraudulent acquisition of Ghanaian identity or travel documents remains a serious criminal offence under Ghanaian law and carries severe penalties.