The Chief Director of the Ministry for the Interior, Mrs Adelaide Anno-Kumi, has entreated officers of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) to remain disciplined and have a positive attitude towards work in the New Year.
She has urged them to also respect one another and collaborate effectively with other security agencies in the course of their work.
Mrs Anno-Kumi was speaking in Accra on Friday at the service’s thanksgiving service held on the theme “Give Thanks to God in All Circumstances.”
She indicated that data available to the ministry showed that the service was the most sought-after service because of the good image it had portrayed over the years for which reason it should continue to live up to task.
Mrs Anno-Kumi advised officers not to drink and drive and stringently adhere to all fire safety protocols, adding that “you should be vigilant and report incidents of suspicious characters that you see around you.”
She again cautioned them to be circumspect in their sexual lives and protect themselves against contracting Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).
Mr Kwame Asuah Takyi, Comptroller-General, GIS, reiterated that the guiding principle for the service in the coming year was discipline, positive attitude towards work and patriotism and love for the country, adding “these are the sure ingredients in moving the country forward.”
He noted that the outlook for the coming year would see the GIS putting in some strategies as it final touches its 2023-2028 Strategic Plan to ensure public safety and security, service delivery and also harnessing the benefits of migration for the socio-economic development of the country.
“This will be anchored on digitalisation of our work systems to ensure efficiency and effective use of resources,” he added.
Mr Takyi urged officers to stop all negative attitudes and the “pull him down” mentality as well as lazier fair attitude towards work and lend their support to the management of the service.
He said the year saw the development of the National Land Border Security Strategy (LBSS) in consultation with sister security and intelligence agencies which spelt out the strategies rolled out by the Service to effectively patrol the country’s borders to ensure border security and integrity.
“Two achievements that we are very grateful to the government is the construction of the Immigration Service Training School at Tepa and currently ongoing construction of the Immigration Service Tactical Training School at Kyebi,” he added.
Mr Takyi said the service had also witnessed an increase in recruitment levels and the provision of logistics which had helped to enhance its visibility at the borders.
He therefore, commended the government and the Ministry for the Interior for supporting the Service with the needed logistics and infrastructure to move the Service to where it was.
The GIS Comptroller General also used the opportunity to assure Ghanaians that the service would continue to ensure the territorial integrity of the country’s borders and prevent miscreants from entering to disturb their peace.
“We will continue to contribute our quota in enhancing the internal security of the country to promote a prosperous economic wellbeing of our people,” he added.
BY ABIGAIL ARTHUR
