Immigration Service embarks on border security campaign

Accra, Feb. 11, GNA - The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has partner other security agencies to sensitize people living in Paga in the Northern Region and its environs on how to be security alert.

The GIS said in the face of the recent bomb attacks in Cote d'Ivoire and the Al-Qaeda attacks on some countries in West Africa there was the need to intensify border patrols.

Mr Francis Palmdeti, Head of Public Relations, GIS, who disclosed this in Accra, said following the attack, the District Security Council (DISEC) including Immigration and other security services decided to sensitize the people in Paga and its environs to be security alert and also to identify the people they are suspicious of.

'Feedback we received from that collaboration indicated that the exercise was successful as people are now aware of security issues and we think that other border communities along the country's borders should take a cue and be involved to provide security along our borders,' he added.

He said sensitizing border communities would help the people to alert security officials of dubious persons within their localities to avert possible terrorists' attacks.

Mr Palmdeti announced that there were persistent robberies along the country's borders, which called for early passage of the GIS bill to enable their Boarder Control Team to be armed to prevent robberies at the borders.

He cited a case at Jaman North where the Border Patrol Team found a young man who had been hit by a stray bullet and the Patrol Team sent him to hospital, where he was responding to treatment.

'Our concern is that if our Border Patrol Team is adequately armed they will be able to prevent that kind of robberies and other crimes along our borders,' he added.

He said he was hopeful the GIS Bill, which has passed the third reading in Parliament, would soon be passed to enhance their efficiency as well as bring them at par with other security services.

GNA