GIS appeals to govt for more budgetary support
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Mr Cletus Avoka, has stated that considering the critical role the service plays in the socio-economic development and security of the nation, it is imperative that the government increases the service’s budgetary allocation in order for it to solve critical logistical constraints that it is facing.
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He said although the GIS was set up in 1989 and was the last of the security agencies to be established, its role as the first line of contact with the outside world was very crucial to the safety of the nation.
Close contact
Mr Avoka made the comments when the board of the GIS paid a four-day working visit to the service’s establishments in the Western Region. The visit, which was the fourth in a series to be undertaken by the board, had the purpose of having close contact with personnel of the service, as well as enable the members to familiarise themselves with activities on the ground and also understand and appreciate challenges officers of the service were confronted with.
The team visited the GIS Regional Office in Takoradi, the Sekondi Fishing Harbour and the Main Harbour and paid a courtesy call on the regional minister. The team also visited Asankragwa, Dadieso, Jomorro, Enchi, Half Assini, Jaway Wharf, New Town and the Elubo border.
Staff durbar
At a staff durbar held at Elubo, the board chairman expressed dissatisfaction with the extent of deprivation personnel of the service suffered compared to other security agencies, describing the GIS as ‘poor cousins’ of the other agencies. He was upset that the GIS did not own a single office building it could call its property.
“Right from the national headquarters to all regional offices through to the municipals and the districts, the service is either perching or sharing offices with other institutions,” he said.
Mr Avoka urged business concerns to come to the aid of the GIS by supporting it in any way that they could, especially in the area of providing accommodation as well as helping it with its logistical needs.
He commended personnel of the service for their positive attitude and optimism towards work in spite of the challenges they faced in the line of work. He pledged the board’s support in addressing their challenges and charged the personnel to continue to be disciplined, hardworking professional, honest and patriotic.
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Collaborate and cooperate
For his part, the Director of the GIS, Mr Felix Yaw Sarpong, advised personnel of the service to collaborate and cooperate with the other security agencies in intelligence gathering and information sharing.
“You must not compromise on your professionalism and always remember that the nation comes first,” he said.
He urged personnel to work and operate within the mandate and laid down regulations that govern the service. He asked them to take note, especially of the new Immigration Service Act 2016 (Act 908).
Regional strength
The Western Regional Commander, Comptroller of Immigration (COI) Mr Smart Osei Bonsu, said the GIS in the region comprised the Sekondi Regional Office and three sector commands located in Elubo, Takoradi and Dadieso. He said the service also had presence in the Tarkwa, Axim, Sefwi-Wiawso, Asankragwa, Half-Assini, Yaakese, Oseikojokrom and Bibiani districts with a total staff strength of 432.
Mr Osei Bonsu said in the first quarter of 2016, the region generated GH¢157,339 and $6,850 for the state.
He enumerated some of the major challenges the region faced as the lack of cross-country vehicles, motorbikes and communication gadgets that would enable it to effectively monitor the activities of unscrupulous foreigners who came into the country and together with their Ghanaian counterparts engaged in illegal mining activities, and the poor and deplorable conditions under which officers worked.
The GIS board has already visited the Volta, Upper East and Northern regions.