Electronic passport examination system for Kotoka soon
The manual examination of passports and individuals is to be replaced with an electronic system at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to enhance immigration services.
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The electronic system, which will ensure speed and efficiency in the travelling processes and improve security at the KIA, is also aimed at regulating and monitoring the activities of travellers.
The initiative, known as e-immigration, is under the e-Ghana Project being funded by the World Bank.
Validation processes
It is intended to deploy modern information and communications technology (ICT) to improve intelligence sharing within the Ghana Immigration Service and other security agencies in and outside the country.
This came to light when the Minister of Communications, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, paid a working visit to the Josanti Training Centre, a company contracted to assemble the machines at Asylum Down in Accra.
Dr Boamah also paid a similar visit to three other project sites which fall under the ministry. They included the Business Process Outsourcing Centre, the new building for the National Communication Authority and the e-Government Data Centre, all in Accra.
Explaining further how the machines would work, the Project Director, Mr Michel Viano, said 10 electronic gates would be installed at the KIA where travellers would scan their passports.
“The machine will scan and read the information in the passport, including the picture of the holder after which it will automatically validate the details provided before the traveller can gain access to the boarding gates,” he explained.
Creating jobs
At the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Centre, the minister was briefed on how the centre would create jobs in the ICT industry.
The Chief Consultant of the project, Mr Kuma Osei Bonsu, said the centre, which was still under construction, was expected to provide about 10,000 jobs for the youth in the country.
He explained that the BPO Centre would provide a platform and space for businesses through its telecommunication system for software development and digital processing.
He added that the facility would provide about 7,200 direct jobs and 2,800 indirect jobs through its eight-hour shift system.
At the e-Government Data Centre near the Kofi Annan ICT Centre, a member of the Data Protection Commission, Mr William Tevie, said the centre would provide the country with a national data centre which would feed other bodies such as the National Identification Authority and National Health Insurance Scheme.
He said the project was expected to be completed by April this year to facilitate data processes in the country.
Diversifying economy
Commenting on the various projects after the inspection, Mr Boamah said the initiatives formed part of the government’s efforts to improve productivity and ensure efficiency of governance .
On the e-immigration, Mr Boamah said the systems would be installed at various locations at the airport as soon as expansion works were completed at the KIA.
He said the system would help speed up immigration services, while eliminating the human element which usually caused delays and other issues.
He said the facility would also have substations for power, generators and power banks to ensure efficient power supply and services at all times.
“The centre will also host the Ministry of Communications and will provide information to both public and private sectors as well as integrate all national data activities,” he stated.