The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama says the government is making strenuous efforts to attract substantial private sector investment, both foreign and local to help realise the Golden Age of Business.

"The investors we seek are those who are willing to commit long-term capital to set up manufacturing and industrial facilities that will add value to our natural resources and thereby creating employment and relieve the burden of poverty from our people".

Alhaji Mahama said this when he commissioned the Immigration Training Academy and performed the graduation ceremony of the first batch of 32-cadet officer made up of 24 men and 8 women, after they had undergone a six-month training at the Academy at Assin Fosu.

He said the government was also committed to expanding the country's economic frontiers through the opening of new channels of co-operation within the framework of African Union under the new foreign policy orientation of economic diplomacy, adding that "we also wish to reaffirm our commitment to the effort at forging integrated and harmonized sub-regional economies for the mutual benefit of all Member States".

The Vice-President said the benefit the government anticipated from these new economic and political arrangement would remain a mirage if Ghanaians failed to play their respective roles effectively and, therefore, called on the Immigration Officers to brace themselves up to this new challenge.

He said the Immigration Service occupied a unique position in the security set up of the country as the first line of contact at the frontiers and having the duty of regularising the stay and activities of foreigners. They must, therefore, be dedicated and show commitment and loyalty to duty.

The Vice-President cautioned the Officers not to allow indiscipline and misguided use of discretion to blind their sense of judgment and said: "under no circumstance should you compromise your positions for personal gains."

Government says it is aware that the Service is working under difficulties and constraints and hinted that every effort is being made to provide the facilities and equipment essential for efficient service delivery.

Under the Ghana Trade and Investment Gateway Project, the World Bank is assisting government in a programme for strengthening the operational capacity of the Service through institutional building, behavioural change and physical equipment.

The Government says it is also stepping up recruitment into the service and arranging courses both locally and internationally for some officers to broaden their horizon and improve upon their efficiency.

Source: GNA - Ghana News Agency