The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has denied allegations that the E-Gate system recently deployed at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) cost taxpayers $240 million.
These claims follow accusations of corruption tied to the government’s decision to engage a private company for the activation of the system.
The Minority in Parliament has been vocal in its criticisms, with Minority Chief Whip, Governs Kwame Agbodza, during an interview on Wednesday, December 18, describing the arrangement as a clear case of “create, loot, and share.”
Agbodza questioned why $147 million was allegedly spent on the E-Gate system, pointing out that the entire airport was constructed at a cost of $250 million.
In a statement released on Thursday, December 19, the GIS clarified that the widely circulated $240 million cost figure for the E-Gate system is inaccurate, urging the public to disregard such claims. The service emphasized its commitment to transparency and accountability in implementing projects.
“The Ghana Immigration Service is implementing a new integrated border management system known as the ‘Immigration 360’. The system seeks to fully automate passenger processing and data management at all the forty-eight (48) approved entry/exit points to Ghana and other operational commands. The new system seeks to address challenges with sovereignty, interoperability, and other inadequacies associated with the existing systems installed at twelve (12) approved borders.
“The total cost of the new ‘Immigration 360’ border management system is $94.6 million (i.e., $94,664,374.57). As part of Phase One (1) of the project, the GIS is installing border management systems, including an e-Gate component at the KIA, which is geared at enhancing smooth passenger clearance and processing. This whole component for the KIA, comprising the immigration control systems and the e-gates, cost $5.5 million (i.e., $5,548,860.89).
“The e-Gate system alone (comprising 15 units of e-Gates with accessories), which forms part of the border management system being installed at KIA, costs $1.7 million (i.e., $1,760,479.80),” it stated.
The GIS indicated that the $240 million referenced in the circulating article on social media was in relation to the whole cycle cost of the project (including the initial implementation cost of $94,664,374.57).
“The $240 million includes two (2) periodic wholesale upgrades of the critical components of the system and the cost of maintenance and licenses over the 10-year cycle of the project. The first upgrade type is in three (3) replacement cycles of key components of the system. The second upgrade type is two (2) 5-year upgrade cycles within ten (10) years to replace major components of the technical infrastructure. This is to ensure a refresh of the system at all times and to ensure the handback of a brand-new system at the end of the ten-year period.
“After accounting for VAT and other taxes, the total comes to $274 million, which includes maintenance and hands-on support services over a ten-year period to guarantee the system is operational around-the-clock. It is worth noting that the Immigration 360 provides the benefits of integrating seamlessly with local databases: Ghana’s National Identification System (NIS), Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), National Stop/Watch List, and international systems.
“INTERPOL’s Global Stop/Watch List, ICAO’s Public Key Directory (PKD), Advanced Passenger Information (API), Passenger Name Record (PNR), Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System (PISCES), which facilitate travel, trade and security,” GIS stated.
GIS further stressed that the system, developed by Margins ID Systems Application Ltd, a private, local Ghanaian company, offered the capabilities to also integrate the various visas and permits issued by the GIS with the border controls processes across the country.
“It is important to note that Margins ID Systems Application Ltd (MIDSA) is pre-financing the implementation cost of $94,664,374.57 and will be repaid from revenue that will accrue from the use of the system,” it added.
