The Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI), Mr Kwame Asuah Takyi, has bemoaned the deplorable state of commands and border posts in the Northern and Upper East Regional Immigration Commands, describing the situation as “unacceptable”.
The CGI made this observation when he paid a working visit to the two regional commands of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) to find out about the welfare of the personnel and their operational activities, know the challenges confronting them and inspect facilities, including projects in progress.
The first point of call was the Northern Regional Immigration Command (NRIC), which includes the regional headquarters, the Yendi Sector Command and the Tatale and Saboba border posts. The others areas were the Bunkpurugu and Wunjuga border posts.
The entourage also visited the regional headquarters of the Upper East Regional Immigration Command (UERIC), the Bawku Sector Command and Paga and Namoo border posts. The tour also took the team to the Zebilla inland border post, the Pulimakom, Kulungugu and Mognori border posts.
He was appalled by the dilapidated nature of the commands and border posts, as most of them were in ruins, with no washrooms, potable water and electricity supply.
Officers deployed to man these posts at the various entry points of the country use ancient chairs and tables at their various offices and had no decent lodging places either.
Addressing durbars of service personnel at the various commands posts, Mr Takyi assured them of government’s resolve to repair and rehabilitate the border posts. He also said efforts were being made to provide suitable accommodation for personnel. “This, I believe, will not only boost the image of the country at the entry points, but also boost your morale towards your assigned duties,” he added.
He, however, expressed unhappiness about the poor maintenance culture and the unconcerned attitudes exhibited by some of the commands about the deplorable state of the border posts. He admonished them to be responsible and take proper care of whatever resources that were at their disposal.
He said management was making prudent use of the service’s fiscal resources to ensure the timely and efficient disbursement of funds for programmes and projects.
Mr Takyi reiterated the service’s determination to put to rest challenges associated with transfer disparities and poor deployment plan through a human resource management solution that had been procured by the service.
In response to several requests by personnel of the service to bear arms to help them secure the borders and deter miscreants from engaging in nefarious activities as a result of wanton threats at the entry points, the CGI assured personnel of the service that plans were far afoot to ensure personnel were armed.
Commenting on the memorandum of understanding signed between the GIS and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) last year to integrate border management activities at the entry points of the country, the Comptroller-General urged the personnel to ensure effective collaboration between the two agencies. He advised them to avoid any turf war, pointing out that “terrorists do not know blue or green uniform”.
Mr Takyi commended officers for their dedication to duty, in spite of the challenges they were confronted with, and urged them not to renege on their intelligence gathering and enforcement duties.
The CGI also interacted with personnel and staff of the Customs Division of GRA, Port Health Unit, Plant Quarantine Division and other agencies at the borders.
He was accompanied on the tour by his deputy in-charge of Finance and Administration, Mrs Judith Dzokoto-Lomoh; the Chief Staff Officer, Chief Superintendent Lawrence Agyei Agyapong; Deputy Chief Staff Officer/Aide-de-Camp to the CGI, Supt. Amoateng Enning; and the Head of Public Affairs, Superintendent Michael Amoako-Atta.
Source: The Finder
