GIS Boss Ends 9-Day Tour Committed To Improving Working, Living Conditions Of Officers

The Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI) Lawyer Kwame Asuah-Takyi has stated that he is committed to the retooling, reshaping and general welfare of Officers and Men in the Ghana Immigration Service.

The CGI made those remarks when he visited personnel at some GIS offices, approved and unapproved routes in the Northern, Upper West and the newly created Savannah Regions in the Northern part of Ghana on a nine-day working tour.

Speaking at durbars with personnel in all the places he visited, the Immigration Head assured his Officers that the President has confirmed his commitment to the Service and that there will be more improvement in the Service than the current level that it is now.

He asserted that, ¨the President is a listening President and what he says he will do, he does it, so I believe when I forward all my observations and recommendations through my sector Minister of the Interior to the Presidency, all necessary actions would be taken¨.

The CGI added, ¨ I can assure you that your welfare and finding solutions to our challenges and logistical inadequacy is at the core of this administration. For this reason, I have come personally to have a look at them so I can better present it to the appropriate quarters for an improved working conditions¨, he asserted.

Mr. Takyi commended his Men for working relentlessly even in some poor conditions as observed and was confident that the policies and decisions his management team has been making are all towards upgrading improving working conditions.

The tour amongst other things was to enable the CGI gather first-hand information on activities and observe the level of challenges bedeviling the GIS. It was also an opportunity for him to meet personally with personnel and have interactions with them amidst explaining some policies and decisions to the clarifications of his Men.

The tour came at a time when a second batch of border patrol officers have been deployed to the North to beef up border security in the wake of the influx of neighboring Burkinabes as part of ´Operation Conquest Fist´.

In all, the CGI visited GIS offices and approved routes in Damongo, Bole, Wa, Tumu, Hamile, Lawra, Nandom and Chache border posts. He also toured the Sawla, Kalba, Saru, Vouvou, Taglagiri, Fielmo, Kokoligu, Dabor, Maase, Wecheau, Talawo Naa, Gwollu, Kupulima and other unapproved routes.

Weapons Before Christmas

The CGI also has disclosed that the government has fulfilled the promise of acquiring arms and other weapons for effective border patrolling and protection of border patrol officers of the GIS along Ghana´s porous borders.

He said, ¨to every challenge there a solution, the government has completed all procurement processes and have procured the arms for us. By the end of the year, we should expect them for distribution¨, he stated.

This statement received a lot of applause from Officers and Men who have been waiting for long for this intervention from the Government.

The CGI was however quick to admonished that personnel should maintain a high sense of discipline when using the arms.

Officers and Men interviewed after their interactions with the Comptroller-General where confident that the arms when received would improve border security and protection of personnel who man such borders.

Courtesy Calls

As part of the tour, the CGI paid courtesy calls on some prominent individuals in the regions. His first point of call was paying homeage to with the Spanish Ambassdor to Ghana, HE. Alicia Rico Peréz del Pulgar to the Dakpem Naa, Chief of Tamale at the Dakpema Palace. This follows the sod cutting ceremony of the Tamale Migration Information Center.

Mr. Asuah-Takyi disclosed to the Dapkema that his great grandmother hails from Tamale and so being in his Palace meant he was home. The Dakpema Naa welcomed the CGI and his entourage with kola to signify peace and wealth then conferred special blessings and prayers on them.

In the Savannah Region, the CGI held talks with the Regional Coordinator and the District Chief Executive (DCE) of the area in the absence of the substantive Regional Minister.  He also inspected the new Regional Command Office allocated to the GIS in Damango where he made recommendations for a smooth take off of their oprerations.

CGI also met with the DCE for Bole, Hon. Veronica Alele Heming where the two had fruitful discussions on border security and improving the living standard of personnel in her jurisdiction.

As part of the tour, Mr. Takyi also paid a courtesy call on the 34^th King of Waa, Wa Naa Fuseini Seidu Gbelgo (IV) at his palace and commended him on his vast wisdom and knowledge in maintain peace in the area.

Demonstrating his contentment for the visit, the Wa Naa dressed up the CGI in a locally made customized Upper West Kente and also offered special prayers on him and his entourage for prosperity and protection form Allah.

The CGI concluded his working tour by visiting the Regional Minister for the Upper West Region, Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih where matters on logistics and welfare of Officers were discussed. The Minister also offered a hospitable dinner for the Comptroller-General and his entourage at his residence.

Officer RejectS GH¢25k Bribe

Whilst the Comptroller-General of Immigration was on tour, Six Border Patrol Officers of GIS turned down a GH¢25,000 bribe and intercepted two trucks loaded with NPK fertilizers meant for government flagship planting for Food and Jobs initiative in the Upper West Region.

A total of 1,950 bags were retrieved from the trucks were being smuggled to neighbouring country Burkina Faso through the Fielmon unapproved route in the Sissala West District.

Narrating the incident to the CGI when he arrived at the Fielmon unapproved route as part of his nine day tour in the Region, the Hamile Sector Commander, Chief Superintendent Felix Agyemang-Bosompem, said they received a tip-off at around 1:00am, August 1, 2019, that two trucks were being loaded with fertilizers meant for the government to be smuggled out of the country through the Fielmon unapproved route.

He immediately dispatched six officers to lay ambush at the said route where the trucks were expected to pass to carry out their ill-thought plan at in the morning. A search was conducted on the trucks when it arrived and 1,950 bags of government´s NPK fertilizer were intercepted.

The Sector Commander also revealed that during the period of the operation, his Men were offered GH¢25,000 by the owner of the loot as their share if they were allowed to pass. The Smugglers also confessed were going to make GH¢60,000 profit should they have successfully smuggled the goods. This proposal was refused and reinforcement from the Military assisted in arresting them.

In all, ten Ghanaians including the drivers and loading boys were arrested and sent to the Wa Police Station. The Owner of the goods however took to his heels and is still on the run.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration commended Officers for their selfless service while assuring them of an award package. He said, ¨the President in his own         God-given wisdom to increase production rolled out the planting for food and jobs with more money but look at how some greedy Ghanaians are helping collapse the programme¨, he lamented.

He called on Ghanaians to release more information to security agencies to better protect them when they are well informed with situations on the ground.

The impounded trucks with the fertilizers have since been handed over to the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority in Wa for further actions with consultation with the Regional Minister.