His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated the government’s dedication to strengthening the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and reforming the border security initiative. The President also pledged support to modernize its operations and improve working conditions for personnel across the country.
He made the assurance during a courtesy call at Jubilee House by the Governing Council of the Ghana Immigration Service. Hon. Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak led the council; the meeting was part of broader efforts to officially introduce the council members to the President. Part of the meeting agenda was also to inform the President on governance modifications and seek his direction.
President Mahama praised the Ghana Immigration Service as “the first point of entry into Ghana” and “a symbol of our complete sovereignty.” He applauded their good works in protecting the borders of the country and sustaining the internal peace the country is enjoying.
The Ghana Immigration Service has, over the years, protected and ensured the security of the borders of Ghana, preventing external dangers and unauthorized people from entering. They have executed it well, leading to peace and stability in the country.
The President further applauded the Council’s innovation in launching Project SECOBOR, that is, Secure Our Borders. This is an initiative which have been implemented to mobilize public and private partnerships to deepen border security despite limited state resources.
The projects also encompass mobilization of resources for logistics, technology, and surveillance. The vision of this initiative is to strengthen national security by providing specialized training and tools to enable personnel to effectively perform their duties in surveillance and intelligence gathering.
Mahama Assured Them Of His Continuous Support
The Presidentopined that the government is putting measures in place to ensure that the Ghana Immigration Service has everything they need to work effectively at its disposal, including helping to resolve the logistical challenges it is currently facing.
The Minister for Interior, Hon. Muntaka, stated that ongoing reforms are under government policy. He asserted that seven new Regional Immigration Offices are currently under construction nationwide to take facilities closer to citizens and reinforce border administration.
“I assure you of the government’s support to resolve your logistical challenges. We are working hard to improve your working conditions so you can deliver on your mandate.”
President John Mahama
This initiative is aimed at decentralizing services, making them easily accessible to Ghanaians, and implementing tighter measures that will help curb illegal migration and also ensure that the borders are secured.
The Minister of Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mubarak, touched on several reforms that are currently in progress at the Ghana Immigration Service. He further opined that the reforms are in line with the broader security and public sector restrictions implemented by the government.
He reiterated that the expansion of the infrastructure, which involves the building of seven new offices, will lessen the burden and pressure on other branches as well as help the service to be more effective in their work.
The Minister opined that the Ministry is committed to policy leadership, resource mobilization, and stronger institutional frameworks for GIS. Rev. Stephen Wengam, who is the Chairman of the Governing Council, expressed his gratitude towards the president for his support.
He also appealed to the President for his continuous support, especially regarding the SECOBOR, which seeks to enhance GIS capacity through partnerships. He noted that the SECOBOR initiative is to bring partnerships on board to boost logistics, technology, and operational capacity within the service.
He emphasized that, in order to effectively strengthen security at the border, there is a need for a collective national effort, stating that partnerships between government, private, and other stakeholders, including civil societies, will go a long way in helping to achieve the success needed.
The President applauded both the Minister and Council for their “good work” and promised he would continue to support the GIS to ensure that they perform their duties effectively, which will ultimately lead to peace and stability in Ghana.
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