UN petitions IGP over imposter affiliate groups in Ghana

The United Nations is requesting the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to deal with what it describes as identity theft by some unscrupulous organisations operating in Ghana under the pretext of being affiliated to the world body.

According to the UN, it has evidence of fraudulent activities being perpetrated by two institutions including a group calling itself the United Nations youth who have for some time now posited as one of their agencies and appointing resident representatives.

At a high-powered delegation meeting in Accra between officials of the foreign affairs ministry and all heads of UN organisations in Ghana, one of the scam letters with a purported endorsement from former minister for foreign affairs Hannah Tetteh was tendered as part of illegal dealings of the group.

However, UN Resident Coordinator Sylvia Lopez-Ekra reveals that a notice has been sent to the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to deal with the matter.

“We have no relationship with them, two different groups actually, so we are getting concerned that the name of the UN is being abused and of course it can lead to money being lost to the victims. it can lead to identity theft so we would kingly request the support of the ministry in helping to deal with this. We have sent it to the national security and also to the Inspector General of Police,” said Ms Lopez-Ekra.

Meanwhile, the deputy foreign affairs minister, Charles Owiredu, who was also present at the meeting assured the delegation that the matter would be appropriately dealt with while indicating that further consultations will be held with the UN in accrediting some international organisations or groupings.