The National Identification Authority (NIA) has explained circumstances under which notorious Chinese galamsey kingpin Aisha Huang received a national identity card despite being illegally resident in Ghana.
The Authority explained that she had renewed a card she registered for in Nhyiaeso, Kumasi as far back as February 26, 2014.
She registered under the Foreigner Identification Management System (FIMS), the NIA said.
In a statement issued by its Acting Head of Corporate Affairs, Abudu-Abdul Ganiyu, on Tuesday, September 6, the NIA disclosed that En Huang, as she is known in its system, went to a registration centre in Tamale in August to secure a new card.
She wanted to register with the name ‘Ruixia Huang’, date of birth as November 7, 1975 and Passport Number EJ5891162.
“The registration, however, went into a technical state known as ‘RejectedDueAFIS’, which meant that the biometrics of RUIXIA HUANG possibly matched that of an already existing person in the NIS database,” the NIA explained in the statement.
“The registration officer therefore sent a request to the technical support team for further investigations.
“This revealed that, based on the biometrics provided, “RUIXIA HUANG” had previously registered as EN HUANG in the FIMS record under the NIS database.
“When confronted by the registration officer with this information, she claimed to have changed her name. As per NIA’s normal registration process, EN HUANG was asked to provide an official certified affidavit and a gazette as required by law to support the change of name if the details in the passport with number EJ5891162 were to be used to update her old records.”
She was, then, given the option of waiting to bring in the required documents before her details could be updated or renewing her old registration with her Personal ID Number CHN-010039480-J, without any change in details.
She opted to renew with the old details and then go through the affidavit and gazette process after which she would then provide the documents for the update to be done.
The NIA said her renewed card was then issued on Thursday, August 25, bearing the details: Forename: EN Surname: HUANG, Date of Birth: 07-Jul-86 Personal ID Number: CHN-010039480-J.
“It must be emphasized that possession of the Non-Citizen Ghana Card does not confer or amount to having Ghanaian citizenship.
“The NIA’s verification system functioned as designed to enable NIA prevent HUANG EN from registering under a new name and date of birth for a new Non-Citizen Ghana Card, despite her being in possession of two Chinese passports.”
It said the matter is being investigated by the security agencies.
“The NIA wishes to assure the general public that its technical system remains robust, and it will continue to jealously guard the boundaries of Ghanaian citizenship and prevent unqualified foreigners from obtaining the Ghana Card meant for Ghanaian citizens.”
By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana