Fingerprint identification has been used in forensic science for over 100 years. They are frequently found at crime scenes or items used during the commission of a crime. The basic premises of fingerprint identification are that: No two fingerprints are identical and they stay unchanged throughout life.

On 28th November, 2015, Mr. Aaron Amankwaa, a UK trained forensic scientist, collaborated with the Technical staff at the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, KNUST to organize a practical seminar on fingerprints for the first-year 2015/2016 MSc/MPhil Forensic Science students at the department. Mr Amankwaa gave a 30 minutes presentation on the significance of fingerprint examinations in the investigation of crime, methods of fingerprint enhancement and fingerprint identification and evaluation.

The students were briefed on the practical component of the seminar and supervised to independently enhance latent fingerprints on a porous and non-porous substrate using ninhydrin and black powder respectively. The second part of the exercise involved the identification and evaluation of the developed prints.

Overall the students enjoyed the exercise and were happy to learn about the procedure for fingerprint examination. The hands-on experience helped them to identify some of the technical challenges involved in fingerprint enhancement and identification.

Seminar Instructors:

Mr Aaron Amankwaa, BSc (Hons), MSc, Forensic Scientist
Mr. Nat Yawson, BSc (Hons), Senior Technician at Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, KNUST
Mr. Jeffery Dadson, BSc (Hons), MPhil Forensic Science student at KNUST

Source: Amankwaa Forensics