News
NIA cautions banks against relying on photocopies of Ghana cards
The National Identification Authority (NIA) is urging institutions, especially banks, to stop relying on photocopies of Ghana Cards for identity verification, describing the practice as unsafe and prone to fraud.
This was revealed by the Executive Secretary of the Authority, Mr. Yayra Koku, at a press conference to mark Identity Day at the NIA head office in Accra.
The event was held under the theme “My Identity, My Umbrella.”
Mr. Koku explained that photocopies of ID cards do not prove that the person presenting the card is the rightful owner or that they were physically present at the point of transaction.
He noted that only biometric verification, through fingerprints or facial recognition, can confirm the true identity of an individual.
He recounted cases of fraud, including an incident in which a businessman lost $1.5 million after a fake card was used because biometric verification was not carried out.
He stressed that biometric authentication also provides a timestamp, which records that the individual was present at the institution at a particular time.
The Acting Head of Legal at the NIA, Mrs. Theresa Eson-Benjamin, added that while photocopying an ID card is not a crime, it is not a process encouraged by the Authority.
She explained that photocopy-based verification has led to several cases of impersonation and identity theft reported to the police.
Mrs. Eson-Benjamin revealed that the NIA was working on amendments to its regulations to penalize institutions that fail to use biometric verification when it is available.
She urged citizens to insist on biometric checks at banks and other service providers to protect their identities and reduce the risk of fraud.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ahyiresu and Abofrem, two quiet communities in the Atwima Mponua District, have been shaken to the core by a chilling midnight drama that reads like a nightmare.
A pastor and a young mother stand accused of attempting to bury a five‑month‑old baby girl alive, a crime that has ignited outrage and disbelief across the township.
According to police, Apostle Richmond Akwasi Frimpong, 36, Head Pastor of the Anointed Grace Prayer Ministry at Kuffour Camp, conspired with his uncle Emmanuel Appiah, 53, and the child’s mother, 23‑year‑old Beatrice Agyapomaa, to dispose of the infant, Anaya Achiaa, under the cover of darkness.
A fourth suspect, Emmanuel Donkor, remains on the run.
The suspects were caught near a refuse dump around 10 pm on April 9, 2026, after a vigilant resident, Akwasi Twezor, noticed their suspicious movements.
When confronted, they claimed the child was already dead and had palace approval for burial. But Twezor’s instincts proved right—the baby was still alive, gasping faintly for breath.
Chief Linguist, Nana Yaw Badu, later confirmed that Frimpong had misled him earlier in the evening, securing permission for burial by falsely declaring the child dead.
The infant was rushed to the Abofrem Clinic, where she is now responding well to treatment. Police described her as “very beautiful.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evelyn Yitamkey, Commander of DOVVSU in Bibiani, confirmed that the suspects have been provisionally charged.
Frimpong faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, while Agyapomaa and Appiah are charged with conspiracy and abetment.
They were remanded by the Bibiani Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Frank Asiedu Nimako, to assist investigations.
The docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice, ASP Yitamkey indicated.
The attempted crime has provoked fury among residents, many suspecting ritual motives aimed at bolstering the pastor’s influence.
Crowds attempted to attack the suspects outside court, but police intervention prevented mob justice.
The Assembly Member for Ahyiresu, Yusuf Suleiman, has assured residents that justice will be pursued swiftly.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
Follow our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
