GIS granted 30% IGF to address infrastructure operational needs

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) can henceforth retain 30 per cent instead of 13 per cent of its internally generated funds (IGF), President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced.

The increase which takes immediate effect is to aid the service address its infrastructural and operational challenges, according to a speech read on his behalf by the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, yesterday.

The announcement was made at the graduation ceremony for Cadet Intake XI, numbering 300 at the Immigration Service Academy and Training School at Assin Fosu in the Central Region.

Including 129 females, the officer cadets were admitted into the academy on July 27, 2018 for a nine-month paramilitary training.

To boost border management, Dr Bawumia also announced that government was in the final stage of procuring arms and ammunition for the service to enhance security at borders,in line with the new Immigration Service Act.

He said specialised surveillance equipment and other logistics in addition to office and residential accommodation would be provided the service.

He pointed out alternative arrangement for GIS personnel using their own vehicles to arrest foreigners who are engaged in counterfeiting of the currency and cybercrime.

“Government is determined to rid the country of all types of crimes. To this end, the President has resolved to resource all security services to enable them enforce the law,” he said.

Dr Bawumia gave the assurance that the government would not be complacent in security management of the country adding that “we are alert and working to ensure that citizens are safe and continue to go about our activities without fear “.

While acknowledging the efforts of the service in border management, he urged it  to adopt a more innovative and robust approach including the e-immigration project, to the management of migration in the country in the face of emerging intricate migration issues and implication on security.

In fulfilment of the President’s promise to improve infrastructure at the training school, to enhance training of immigration personnel, the Vice President inaugurated three facilities at the training school; a 3,600-square-metre drill square, a 221-capacity hostel for trainees and a 300-seater modern lecture theatre.

Present at the ceremony were Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul; Minister of the Interior, Ambrose Dery and his deputy, Mr Henry Quartey and the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Obed Boamah

Others were government officials, members of the Diplomatic Corps, the Comptroller-Generals of Immigration of Ghana and Nigeria, Mr Kwame Asuah Takyi and Mr Mohammed Babandede respectively and heads of sister security agencies and traditional leaders.

Officer Cadet Christian Magnusen, a 26-year-old alumnus of the University of Ghana, Legon, was adjudged the overall best cadet and best in academics.

BY JONATHAN DONKOR