Government to review Ghana Immigration Service Law

Asutuare(GAR), April 16, GNA - Government would soon review the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) Law to allow personnel at border posts to use arms and ammunition in their operations.

The review would also make provision for patrol and command vehicles, camouflage uniforms and other accoutrements for the personnel in the discharge of their duties.

Mr. Martin Amidu, Minister of the Interior, announced this at the passing out parade for 200 personnel of GIS after eight weeks of intensive specialised training at Asutuare in the Greater Accra Region on Friday.

The personnel had already undergone the initial basic immigration training at GIS Training School at Assin Fosu in the Central Region.

They were trained by personnel from the 64 Battalion Unit of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), in physical training, weapon training, field craft and map reading, first aid, leadership skills, tactics and would be deployed to the Border Patrol Unit of the GIS.

The Minister's address read on his behalf by Alhaji Salifu Osman, Director of Administration, Ministry of the Interior, said the review was due to the multifaceted nature of immigration operations to include border patrol and management, document fraud detection, prevention of illegal migration, drug abuse and human trafficking.

Mr. Amidu said border management and security issues had been the primary goal of every nation hence government's determination to provide the necessary policies and logistical support to GIS to effectively and efficiently perform its duties.

He said: "integration of the global economy especially the discovery of oil in Ghana, coupled with the political stability in the country has the potential to impact on our economy and national security".

Mr. Amidu called on the management of GIS to urgently redefine and reposition itself by transforming its systems and sharpen its operational capabilities to meet the emerging challenges.

"The GIS has a huge responsibility to effectively balance all these competing national demands to ensure national security and promote trade and business", he said.

Mr. Amidu said government believed that the specialised training and the inter-institutional cooperation between GAF and GIS in training was a step in the right direction.

He urged the personnel to remain committed and dedicated to their duties: "Eschew violence and human rights abuse and always endeavour to perform creditably wherever you find yourselves to further project the image of GIS and the nation."

Mr. Amidu appreciated the enormity of risks and challenges inherent in border patrol duties but was optimistic that the quality of training they had received would help them to maintain integrity and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

Mr. Moses Kwabena Gyamfi, Deputy Director of Immigration in-charge of Operations, told the personnel that recent reports about security personnel at border posts aiding smuggling were not good for the image of GIS and called on them to uphold professional standards in the performance of their duties.

Mr. Gyamfi said management of GIS would deploy monitoring teams to check on the performance of its personnel and ensure that they maintained the level of professionalism exhibited during training.

He called on them to practice self-tuition to enhance their knowledge on immigration issues.

Lieutenant Colonel Kofi Arthur, Commanding Officer of 64 Battalion Unit of the Ghana Army praised the personnel for the professional manner they undertook the training.

He urged the management of GIS to establish a monitoring team that would periodically test the skills level of the personnel to sharpen them for effective performance.

Lt-Col Arthur appealed for an ambulance to be stationed at the training camp to help in the transportation of injured trainees during training to the hospital.

Mr. Dennis Donkor emerged the best all-round trainee while Ms. Faustina Mensah took the best all-round female trainee.

GNA