A Nigerian man named Mohammed Ogbona, also known as Mohammed Alhassan, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison with hard labour for attempting to illegally obtain a Ghanaian passport.

Ogbona was convicted by Judge Madam Benedicta Antwi of the Tema District Court after being charged with unlawful entry and the fraudulent use of a Ghanaian birth certificate and National Identification Card.

The judge issued the sentence after Ogbona pleaded guilty. Part of the penalty included a fine of 200 penalty units (GH ₵ 2, 400. 00) each for trying to get a Ghanaian passport and a National ID through false declarations.

If he fails to pay, he will serve six months’ imprisonment with hard labour and was also fined 400 penalty units (GH ₵ 4, 800. 00); in default, he will serve an additional three months’ imprisonment.

An extra fine of 50 penalty units (GH ₵ 600. 00) was also imposed, with a one- month prison term if unpaid. All sentences are to run concurrently.

The prosecution, led by Inspector Jerry Foster Segbefia and supported by ASI Gillian Biney, told the court that the 32- year- old factory worker at Cimaf Cement was arrested on June 16, 2025, at the Tema Passport Application Centre during his passport application, amid suspicions about his nationality.

Ogbona claimed to be a Ghanaian named Mohammed Alhassan, born at Tema General Hospital to Ghanaian parents — Alhassan Varga, a former military officer, and Rose Tetteh. However, he did not provide evidence or lead investigators to his supposed parents.

Further investigations showed he was born in Enugu State, Nigeria, to John and Rosemary Ogbona, and there was no birth record for him at the Tema General Hospital.

“He wanted the Ghanaian passport to travel to the United Kingdom for greener pastures,” Inspector Segbefia stated.

The court heard that Ogbona used an agent to fake his identity, successfully acquiring a Ghanaian birth certificate (entry number 774) and a Ghana Card (ID number GHA- 730706520- 0) before applying online for a passport.

Additional investigations revealed he entered Ghana illegally via an unauthorised route near the Aflao border, without travel documents or immigration clearance.

Inspector Segbefia noted that after a thorough investigation, Ogbona was prosecuted, and the court called for a custodial sentence to serve as a deterrent against the rising trend of identity fraud and unlawful entry.