Interior Minister Applauds Professionalism Of Immigration Officers And Encourages Them To Do More

The Honourable Minister made the comment during a durbar with Officers at the National Headquarters of the GIS, an opportunity to familiarize himself with the operations of the Service on his assumption of post as the Minister for the Interior.

According to the Minister, he would rate the Service a 90% on the basis of its discipline and dutifulness. “Your professionalism and effectiveness were evident during the Let’s Make Accra Work Again” campaign, the Honourable Minister indicated.

Recounting several developments in the Service including infrastructural expansions and logistical improvements, Hon. Henry Quartey also applauded the Government and his predecessor Hon. Ambrose Dery for the massive retooling of the Service and other security agencies. He assured that he would continue from where the former Minister stopped and see to the continuous advancement of the Service.

The Minister cautioned Officers to serve God and the country in all professionalism. “We are relying on you to perform your professional duties before, during and after elections in all fairness and transparency”, he stressed. He charged Officers to work as professionals and eschew partisan politics, especially since this was an Election year.

On his part, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mr. Kwame Asuah Takyi welcomed the Honourable Minister back to the sector, recalling his impressive contribution as a deputy Minister of Interior between 2017 and 2019. Mr. Takyi said the Service was faced with an enormous duty and was up to the task in protecting the territorial integrity of Ghana as a first line of defence.

The CGI apprised the Minister of recent happenings in the Service, including the establishment of a Centre of Excellence and the acquisition of an 84-Unit residential accommodation at South Odorkor which are yet to be commissioned. “Also worthy of mention is the Immigration Mid-Country Training School at Tepa in the Ashanti Region and the Immigration Tactical Training School located at Kyebi.” The CGI also briefed the Minister on the creation of new inland checkpoints to regulate movement of foreign nationals and new sectors that bring the Immigration to the doorstep of Ghanaian residents.

“Even though the Service is not recognized officially as a revenue-generating institution”, the CGI added, “we have consistently exceeded our revenue targets.” He congratulated the Honourable Minister for his exploits as the Greater Accra Regional Minister. The CGI was optimistic that the Minister, being an action-oriented person, would provide the necessary leadership in realizing most, if not all, of the strategic objectives of the Service as projected in the 2023-2029 Strategic Plan.

The Minister ended his visit by exchanging pleasantries with Officers and Management members present.