The Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI), Kwame Asuah Takyi has bemoaned the deplorable state of Commands and Border Posts in the Northern and Upper East Regional Immigration Commands, describing it as “unacceptable”.
The CGI made the observation when he paid a working visit to the two regional commands of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) to assess the welfare of the personnel, their challenges and inspect facilities.
The first port 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 In-land border post, the Pulimakom, Kulungugu and Mognori border posts.
Kwame Asuah Takyi was appalled by the dilapidated nature of the Commands and Border Posts with most of them in ruins lacking washrooms, potable water and electricity supply.
Officers at these posts at the various entry points of the country use old 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. Kwame Asuah Takyi assured them of government’s resolve to 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 laissez-faire 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 were at their disposal.
In response to several requests by personnel for weapons to secure the borders, 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. Kwame Asuah Takyi commended Officers for their dedication to duty, in spite of the challenges 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.
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By: citinewsroom.com | Ghana