Six junior officers of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) have been promoted for their acts of patriotism in the ongoing fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Five of them, rejected a GH¢1,900 bribe offered by 19 Burkinabes to be allowed entry into the country whereas the other officer, sustained gunshot wounds while pursuing smugglers.
The five, currently serving under the Northern Regional Immigration Command (NRIC), are Assistant Inspector Lukman Tea Salifu; Immigration Control Officers (ICO) Christian Kobla Kekeli Zilevu, Robert Ahiatrogah; Assistant Immigration Control Officers Grade II (AICO II) Eric Kobby Kpogo and Isaac Armah.
A statement issued by the Superintendent Michael Amoako-Atta, GIS
Head of Public Affairs, in Accra on Wednesday said the wounded officer is ICO Lawrence Appiah Marfo of the Kasoa District Command.
It said the promotions, effective May 8, were triggered by Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI), Kwame Asuah Takyi in accordance with Regulation 17(1) (d) of the Immigration Service Regulations of 2016, Legislative Instrument 2245.
It said they would be decorated with the new ranks at theircommands.
According to the statement, on May 3, the five officers’ arrested the Burkinabes at the Savelugu inland immigration checkpoint, after they had entered Ghana through unapproved routes of the northern frontiers, en route to Accra on a bus.
In the case of ICO Marfo, it said he was pursuing smugglers at the Hamile border post, where he had been deployed for ‘Operation Conquered Fist’, when he sustained gunshot wounds.
It said he was currently in a stable condition and the 19 Burkinabes have since been repatriated to their home country adding that “the GIS remains resolute in the fight against the deadly the virus.”
BY TIMES REPORTER
