The National Identification Authority (NIA) has reacted to social media reports and discussions on the arrest of a Chinese National popularly known as Aisha Huang, who was found in possession of a Ghana Card with the name Huang En.
The Authority in a press statement clarified that since 2012, Ghana’s law has required all foreigners permanently resident in Ghana (i.e., for 90 days or longer), who are not diplomats or representatives of international non-governmental organizations, to register for and acquire the national identity card of Ghana.
It also noted that the card issued to such qualified foreigners is the “NON-CITIZEN IDENTITY CARD” and is so captioned in red lettering above the cardholder’s personal details. This distinguishing information in red does not appear on the Ghana Card meant for Ghanaian citizens.
According to the NIA, the arrested Chinese National at the centre of the controversy paid the statutory fee of USD120.00 for the Non-Citizen Identity Card which is valid for one year and is renewable every year at a fee of USD60.00.
” On 26th February 2014, a Chinese woman named HUANG EN registered as a first-time applicant for a foreigner identity card at the Foreigner Identification Management System (FIMS) registration centre at Nhyiaeso, Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region (passport attached). Her biometrics was captured and she was issued a Non-citizen Ghana Card. She subsequently did two more renewals on 31st August 2016 and 8th January 2018, using the same details and Chinese passport number G39575625.” NIA noted
The NIA detailed that on 25th August 2022 at 10:35 am, an incident occurred at the FIMS Registration Centre in Tamale, Northern Region, involving a Chinese national who visited the centre as a first-time applicant and wanted to register with the name RUIXIA HUANG with 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 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.” NIA stated
NIA confirmed that EN HUANG 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.
Her renewed Non-Citizen Ghana Card was then issued to her on 25th August 2022, bearing EN HUANG.
NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION AUTHORITY
PRESS RELEASE
NIA CLARIFIES CONTROVERSY OVER POSSESSION OF GHANA CARD BY CHINESE WOMAN –HUANG EN
6th September 2022
The attention of the National Identification Authority (NIA) has been drawn to mainstream and social media reports and discussions on the arrest in Ghana of a Chinese National popularly known as AISHA HUANG, who was found to be in possession of a Ghana Card bearing the name HUANG EN. The NIA wishes to respond to, and clarify, the situation as follows:
1. Since 2012, our law has required all foreigners permanently resident in Ghana (i.e., for 90 days or longer), who are not diplomats or representatives of international non-governmental organizations, to register for and acquire the national identity card of Ghana.
2. The card issued to such qualified foreigners is the “NON-CITIZEN IDENTITY CARD” and is so captioned in red lettering above the cardholder’s personal details. This distinguishing information in red does not appear on the Ghana Card meant for Ghanaian citizens. Sample images of the citizen and non-citizen cards are attached
Citizen Card Non-citizen Card
3. The qualified foreign applicants pay a statutory fee of USD120.00 for the Non-Citizen Identity Card which is valid for one year and is renewable every year at a fee of USD60.00.
4. The National Identity Register (NIR) compiled by NIA does NOT contain any record of a person named AISHA HUANG. Put differently, the name AISHA HUANG does not exist in the National Identification System (NIS) database.
5. On 26th February 2014, a Chinese woman named HUANG EN registered as a first-time applicant for a foreigner identity card at the Foreigner Identification Management System (FIMS) registration centre at Nhyiaeso, Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region (passport attached). Her biometrics was captured and she was issued a Non-citizen Ghana Card. She subsequently did two more renewals on 31st August 2016 and 8th January 2018, using the same details and Chinese passport number G39575625. Throughout all these registrations her details remained unchanged as below.
Forename: En
Surname: Huang
Date of Birth: 07-Jul-86
Personal ID Number: CHN-010039480-J
Passport Number: G39575625
6. On 25th August 2022 at 10:35 am, an incident occurred at the FIMS Registration Centre in Tamale, Northern Region, involving a Chinese national who visited the centre as a first-time applicant with the following details:
Forename: RUIXIA
Surname: HUANG
Date of Birth: 07-Nov-75
Passport Number: EJ5891162
7. 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 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 officially certified affidavit and a gazette as required by law to support the change of name if the details in the passport with the number EJ5891162 were to be used to update her old records.
8. EN HUANG 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. Her renewed Non-Citizen Ghana Card was then issued to her on 25th August 2022, bearing the details below:
Forename: EN
Surname: HUANG
Date of Birth: 07-Jul-86
Personal ID Number: CHN-010039480-J
9. HUANG EN opted to renew with the old details and then go through the affidavit and gazette process later, after which she would then provide the documents for the update to be done. Her renewed Non-Citizen Ghana Card was then issued to her on 25th August 2022, bearing the old details. This card is what is now impugned and trending on social media (Images attached).
10. It must be emphasized that possession of the Non-Citizen Ghana Card does not confer or amount to having Ghanaian citizenship.
11. The NIA’s verification system functioned as designed to enable NIA to 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.
12. The matter is being investigated by security agencies.
13. 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.
Signed
Dr. ABUDU-ABDUL GANIYU
Ag. Head, Corporate Affairs
