The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) should continue to partner sister organisations for the maintenance of internal security along Ghana’s borders and also ensure that Ghanaians are safe, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Jomoro, Ms Louisa Iris Arde, has proposed.
She added, “As officers and men, you must adopt the attitude of inclusiveness in information sharing with relevant stakeholders, both within and outside the service because the perpetrators of crimes are properly networked and dotted across nations.”
Ms Arde made the suggestion at the Regional Commanders’ and Unit Heads’ Conference of the Western Regional Command of the GIS held at Samenye barrier in the Jomoro Municipality last Friday.
It was on the theme: ‘Effective migration management in a pandemic and emerging security threats – Repositioning the Western Regional Command.’
The conference provided platforms for participants to share ideas, brainstorm workable strategies and an action plan to make Western Region unattractive for perpetrators of crimes and illegal migrants in 2022.
Quoting Kirstjen Nielsen, a former American Homeland Secretary, Ms Arde stressed, “People think of border security in very different ways, but, to me, it’s very simple: border security is national security. This implies that your role should be seen in the context of national domain as it is very crucial to the peace of the Western Region in particular and the nation at large.”
She explained that the GIS was the lead agency in land border management system and assured that the government was committed to equipping the service to enable it to deliver on its mandates.
The Western Regional Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Immigration (DCI), Dr Prosper P. D. Asima, said this year’s conference aimed at enhancing their joint capability and capacity to manage migration and mitigate emerging security threats in this COVID-19 pandemic.
These included cyber threats, kidnapping, poverty, small arms, galamsey, chieftaincy disputes coupled with sub-regional terrorism threats to the nation in general and the Western Region in particular.
He said the current period presented both challenges and opportunities and the impetus to adapt to a post -pandemic existence.
Ghana’s borders, since March 2020, DCI Asima said remained closed and that the GIS played a pivotal role as the lead agency and first line of contact to any foreign element coming into this country.
He continued, “We must acknowledge that poor border management can present serious risks to our national security. Therefore, we must develop a robust border management system with innovation and create new tactics on the ground which when managed responsibly and smartly with technology can lead to positive change and ensure effective migration management and heightened security in our region and Ghana generally.
“With the recent terrorist attacks on citizens in the West African sub-region, terrorism has become one of the major security concerns in the country, as well as the sub-region.”
FROM CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, SAMENYE BARRIER
