Interior Minister inaugurates 11-member Governing Council of GIS

Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, has inaugurated an 11-member Governing Council of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS).

Chaired by the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church, Rev. Stephen Wengam, its members include the acting Comptroller-General of Immigration, Samuel Basintale Amadu, the Member of Parliament for Atebubu/Amantin, Sanja Nanja, the Acting Chief Director of the Minister of Interior, Doreen Annan, Said Mubarak: the Director of Public Prosecutions, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, and Yakabu Mohammed.

The rest are Audery Nana Abyena, Amina Kaguah, Eric Afari and Inspector Frederick Abley.

Occasion

Speaking before the inauguration in Accra last Thursday, Mr Muntaka said the occasion marked not just the formal constitution of a body, but a renewal of "our collective commitment to safeguarding the sovereignty, integrity and internal security of the Republic of Ghana through effective migration management".

The GIS, he said, continued to play a vital role in ensuring the security and development of the country.

"As the principal state institution responsible for the regulation and monitoring of the entry, residence, employment and exit of foreigners in Ghana, the service also performs an indispensable role in border management and national security," he said.

In line with its constitutional mandate and operational imperatives, Alhaji Muntaka said the GIS had adopted a strategic plan that focused on strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing border security, promoting legal and orderly migration and improving service delivery.

That plan, the Interior Minister said, provided a comprehensive roadmap to transform the service into a modern, intelligence-led and technology-driven institution capable of addressing emerging migration and security challenges.

"The inauguration of this governing council comes at a time when the dynamics of global migration, transnational organised crime, and regional integration call for agile governance, strategic oversight and institutional innovation," Mr Muntaka said.

The council was, therefore, not just an administrative necessity but a strategic body mandated to ensure that the vision, mission and strategic objectives of the service were realised, he added.

Appointment

Mr Muntaka told the council members that their appointments were a testament to the confidence the Government of Ghana reposed in their individual and collective expertise, integrity and leadership.

"As you take up this national assignment, you are entrusted with the responsibility of providing policy guidance, ensuring accountability, mobilising resources and supporting the Service in the implementation of its strategic plan.”

"Your role will also involve liaising with key stakeholders both nationally and internationally, strengthening the legal and institutional frameworks governing migration, and ensuring that the Ghana Immigration Service continues to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, transparency and service excellence," he said.

Work

Mr Muntaka urged the members to work closely with the Comptroller-General of Immigration and his management team, providing not only oversight but also strategic direction to position the GIS as a responsive and proactive institution that reflected the aspirations of the nation and the realities of a changing world.

Government, he said, remained committed to supporting the service with the resources and policy backing needed to achieve its mandate.

"We recognise that the security and socio-economic development of Ghana is closely linked to how well we manage migration and secure our borders," Mr Muntaka stated. 

Chair

For his part, Rev. Wengam thanked the President for reposing in them the confidence and onerous responsibility to serve on the governing council of the GIS.

He expressed appreciation to the previous governing council for serving to the best of their ability.

Rev. Wengam called for support from all stakeholders to help shape the service which would be a reference point and standard measure for Africa and the rest of the world.