The Home Office International Operations (HOIO) of the British High Commission has donated two pickup vehicles to the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) at its National Headquarters in Accra yesterday.
The intention of the gesture is to assist the Service in strengthening its operations and enforcing migration laws and policies.
The GIS Comptroller General, Kwame Asuah Takyi, praised the British Government for its dedication to, and, support the Ghana Immigration Service over the years.
According to him, transportation was essential to the operations of the GIS, since it gave the Command essential assistance at all levels of operation. The efficient delivery of migration management in Ghana, according to him, depended on the distribution of vehicles and the transportation strategy.
“This, therefore, means that inadequate number of vehicles hamper smooth running of an institution such as the Ghana Immigration Service,” he stressed.
The Comptroller-General noted that they viewed the support as very critical in the management of border security, as the Service was strategically positioned to fight cross-border crimes at the various borders of the country.
“The current development along the borders with our neighbouring countries brings to the fall the need for more vehicles to patrol our borders to effectively deal with undesirable elements who may want to enter the country illegally,” he added.
He expressed his gratitude to the United Kingdom’s Home Office International Operations for the kind gesture, and assured officials from the High Commission that they would do well to maintain the vehicles. “We will continue to work closely with you for the mutual benefits of our respective countries,” he said.
The International Liaison Manager of HOIO, Femi Akerele, said that fighting illegal migration, modern slavery, and human trafficking was one of their shared priorities, and believeed that the donation would assist in a way to fulfill that mandate.
He continued by saying that the HOIO looked forward to working with the Ghana Immigration Service to address critical challenges in the future.
The GITF project is very essential in strengthening the relationship with the Ghanaian counterparts in the fight against illegal migration. It is also a testament to the commitment and lasting friendship between Ghana and the UK in managing migration for the benefit of both countries.
