Immigration Council unveils new project for border protection
The Ghana Immigration Service Council Board has proposed an initiative to mobilise public and private sector resources to strengthen the country’s border security and enhance the operational capacity of the service.
Dubbed, Project Secure Our Borders (SECOBOR), the initiative seeks to complement government efforts by leveraging partnerships with the private sector to address critical challenges confronting the GIS, including inadequate logistics, infrastructure deficits and evolving border security threats.
The Chairman of the Council, Rev. Stephen Yenusom Wengam, announced the initiative when he led the council to pay a courtesy call on the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, in Accra yesterday.
The visit was to brief him on key reforms within the service and to seek his guidance and support for the initiative.
As part of the meeting, the council also presented an award to the minister for his commitment to transforming the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) to become a world-class institution.
The project
Rev. Wengam said Project SECOBOR was designed as a proactive response to persistent gaps in border control, surveillance, officer welfare and technological capacity, adding that the government alone could not shoulder the full burden of resourcing the service.
He explained that the initiative would focus on strengthening land, sea and air border security through improved logistics, modern surveillance systems, infrastructure development and enhanced officer safety, while promoting efficiency and professionalism in migration governance.
The GIS Council Chairman drew attention to security risks arising from weak border controls, including smuggling, human trafficking and illicit trade, which he said, threatened national security, public safety and government revenue.
He stressed the need to strengthen the service to safeguard the economy and promote lawful trade.
Rev. Dr Wengam said the GIS was ready to lead the rollout of electronic visas and to work with key ministries to integrate electronic gates, advanced passenger information and passenger name record systems.
He stated, however, that challenges remained in technology upgrades, personnel training and data protection.
He also called for the deployment of immigration officers to selected Ghanaian diplomatic missions abroad to enable the service to fully assume its statutory mandate in visa and permit issuance, citing earlier clearance granted for postings to London, Washington DC, New York and Berlin.
Other concerns raised included gaps in the service’s establishment structure, delays and inconsistencies in promotions, incidents of indiscipline and corruption and infrastructure deficits at several commands.
Rev. Dr Wengam said recent working visits by the council had revealed acute shortages in office space, accommodation, vehicles, surveillance equipment and essential tools for effective border management as well as welfare and safety challenges facing officers.
He reaffirmed the council’s commitment to working closely with the ministry to reset the service into a resilient, professional and world-class institution capable of safeguarding the country’s borders and contributing to national development.
Rev. Dr Wengam further commended the minister for what he described as visionary and transformational leadership, citing reforms such as the inauguration of the Governing Council, recruitment and modernisation reforms, infrastructure expansion and improved welfare measures, including amendments to the Immigration Service Regulations on pensions.
Encouragement
For his part, Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak encouraged the council to pursue innovative funding and support mechanisms, particularly in the light of fiscal constraints imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.
He stated that government resources alone would not be sufficient to meet all needs within a four-year term.
“We are seeing clearly that you are up to the task and we can assure you of our full support, you can always count on us and we’ll always support you,” Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak said.
Govt interventions
Touching on infrastructure, the Minister for the Interior said the government had taken a strategic decision to reallocate accrued funds initially meant for the GIS headquarters to address urgent infrastructure needs across the country.
He also acknowledged challenges relating to logistics, accommodation and mobility, describing the recent donation of 20 pick-up vehicles as only the tip of the iceberg, as he pledged continued support to equip officers adequately.
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak highlighted the need for the country to develop a nationally owned border management system capable of monitoring movements not only at official entry points but also at numerous unapproved crossing routes.
He further disclosed that the Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems were already operational and expected to be fully enforced from next month as part of efforts to modernise border control.
On visa issuance, Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak confirmed plans to deploy immigration officers to selected Ghanaian diplomatic missions, beginning with missions in Europe, North America and Africa, to enable the service to fully discharge its statutory mandate.
