The Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI), Mr. Kwame Asuah Takyi has paid a three-day working visit to the Bono Regional Command of the Service to engage Officers and other stakeholders.
The Immigration boss’ tour saw him engaging with border security Officers and key stakeholders such as the Dormahene, Nana Agyemang Badu III, Overlord of the Dormaa Traditional Area and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
Mr. Kwame Asuah Takyi engaged border security Officers at the Kato Checkpoint, the Berekum Sector Office, Jinijini District Office, Kofi Badukrom Border Point, Gonokrom Border Point, Kofi Kumikrom Border Point, Frimpongkrom, Sampa Border Post, Kwameseikrom Border Point and Kwameprakrom-Atuna Border Point on the need for vigilance and collaboration in their work.
According to him, “security demands collaborative efforts”, and entreated all Officers to adopt an integrated approach in playing their respective roles, in order to prevent lapses that can threaten Ghana’s peace.
At all the Commands visited, the Comptroller-General held meetings with Officers and admonished them to collaborate with their counterparts at the various borders and raise their alertness level, especially in the wake of the threat of terrorism and even as we approach the festive season.
He also directed the various Commanders at the border points and inland checkpoints to, as a matter of urgency, engage with the border community residents.
“See the border residents as your collaborative partners and team up with them to win their support and trust. This is the way to go in contemporary border control and management”, he intimated.
The morale of Officers were very high, especially in Atuna, where it was the first time a Head of Immigration had visited.
The CGI assured Officers that the government, in spite of the difficult economic situation, has done a lot to improve on the fortunes of the Service, especially in the areas of office and residential accommodation and also vehicles and logistical support.
He admonished Officers to justify this support by working extra hard to protect the territorial integrity of the country.
The CGI also met briefly with the Dormaahene, Nana Agyemang Badu II, who was in the middle of communal work with his subjects.
The MCE for Dormaa Central, DryssaOuttara and the DCE for Dormaa West, Honorable John Oppong Francis were also called upon by the Immigration boss.
He pleaded that Border Security Committees (BORSECs) be given all the necessary support at the District levels to help keep the country secured, adding that “the government on the national level has been very supportive and same should be reflecting at the very district level”.
He was grateful to the Chief Executives for their continuous support for the border agencies, particularly the Immigration Service, and encouraged that more be done on sensitisation of community members and landlords especially.
Speaking during the tour, the Comptroller-General carried the message that all landlords should avoid harboring undocumented immigrants in their houses, as it poses serious security threat, especially in the light of recent terrorist threats.
He called on all citizens to be more circumspect and report suspicious movements and persons to the nearest security agency.
MCE for Dormaa Central Municipal Assembly, Dryssa Ouattara applauded the CGI for his leadership and intimated that the Immigration Service had been very helpful in the region.
“It took the effort of your men for us to combat the spread of COVID-19 effectively”, the Chief Executive recalled, adding that the Assembly had allocated an Office within the Municipal Assembly Block for the use of the GIS, in order to help their work.
He appealed to the CGI to ensure that Officers give due recognition to the sophisticated social settings among people who live along the borders in the course of their duty, even while they are firm in ensuring border security, explaining that “most of the families at the borders are related.”
