The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has uncovered a suspected criminal syndicate involved in the production and distribution of fake marriage certificates to unsuspecting members of the public.
The illegal activity was discovered after a client’s marriage certificate, allegedly obtained through the syndicate, was rejected by a foreign embassy during a visa application due to inconsistencies in the document. The incident was reported to the AMA, triggering a thorough internal investigation.
According to the Head of Public Affairs at the AMA, Gilbert Nii Ankrah, the Assembly has launched a full-scale investigation into the matter and referred the case to the Ghana Police Service for further action.
“The Assembly has detected these fraudulent activities and immediately handed the matter over to the Police for a full-scale investigation,” Mr. Ankrah confirmed.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the individuals behind the operation were posing as officials responsible for marriage registration at the AMA. They were allegedly forging and issuing counterfeit certificates under the guise of facilitating legitimate marriages.
Mr. Ankrah cautioned the public to engage only with the official Marriage Registry of the AMA and avoid using intermediaries or unofficial agents when seeking marriage registration services. He emphasized that all genuine marriage certificates are issued exclusively through the Assembly’s official channels.
The AMA also urged citizens to report any suspicious activities or individuals claiming to offer shortcuts to marriage documentation, stressing that such practices undermine the integrity of the city’s administrative processes.
The case is currently under police investigation, with the suspects expected to face prosecution once sufficient evidence is gathered.
About the Accra Metropolitan Assembly
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) is the local government authority responsible for the administration and development of Ghana’s capital city. It oversees public services including marriage registration, sanitation, urban planning, and enforcement of city by-laws.
The Assembly has reiterated its commitment to maintaining transparency, protecting the public from fraudulent schemes, and ensuring that all civic services are delivered in accordance with the law.
