We recently witnessed a case where a 26-year-old Togolese national, Komitse Senyo Egle, was found guilty of obtaining multiple Ghanaian documents through illegal means. This incident led to his sentencing by the Kaneshie District Court Two, presided over by Mrs. Ama Adomako Kwakye.
The charges brought against Komitse Senyo Egle included obtaining a Ghanaian birth certificate, national identification card, and driver’s license through false declarations, as well as entering and remaining in Ghana without the required immigration permit. As a result, he was sentenced to a fine of 240 penalty units, which amounts to GHC2,880.00. Additionally, he received a fine of GHC60 penalty units for each count, with the sentences running consecutively. In default of payment, he faces 24 weeks of imprisonment, with six weeks allocated to each count.
During the court proceedings, Komitse Senyo Egle admitted to the offenses and expressed remorse for his actions. He explained that he obtained the birth certificate to facilitate his education at the Ghana Institute of Journalism and to register his sim card using the Ghana card.
According to the prosecution, Komitse, who worked as a driver, was apprehended by Immigration Officials in the Eastern Region after attempting to evade a routine check at a barrier. Subsequent investigations revealed that he possessed multiple falsified documents, including a Ghanaian birth certificate, Ghana card, Ghanaian driving license, and a Togolese voter’s card.
Further scrutiny into the details on the birth certificate exposed that the information provided was false, as it claimed that Komitse was born to Ghanaian parents at La Polyclinic in the Greater Accra Region. In reality, investigations disclosed that Komitse was born in Togo to Togolese parents.
Komitse Senyo Egle confessed that he had entered Ghana in 2018 through an unauthorized border crossing point and had since been residing in the country without the necessary immigration permit. He also admitted to acquiring the Ghanaian driving license through illicit means.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding legal and ethical standards when obtaining official documents. The sentencing of Komitse Senyo Egle underscores the serious consequences of engaging in fraudulent activities to acquire documentation. It also highlights the vigilance of law enforcement agencies in identifying and addressing such offenses.
Ultimately, this incident emphasizes the significance of adhering to legal procedures and requirements when obtaining official documents, and the implications of failing to do so.
-By Neizer Gyamfi | Ghana Crimes
