The Association of Retired Immigration Officers (ARIO), which has been quite prominent since its inception, has inducted twelvenewly elected executives to manage and oversee the Association’s affairs for the next four years.
The new executives were inducted by the Former Chief Director of the Ministry for the Interior, Mrs Adelaide Annor-Kumi, at a ceremony held in Accra recently.
They comprised; Mr Moses K. Gyamfi as President, Madam Veronica Addy as Vice President, Mr Francis Pobee as General Secretary, Madam Celestine Kufe as Assistant General Secretary, Mrs Judith Bruce Konduah as Treasurer, Mr Gershon Dela Dovi as Financial Secretary, Mr Erasmus Tyei as Assistant Financial Secretary and Mrs Mary Agbele as the Welfare and Public Relations Officer of the Association.
H.E Konduah Hodari Okae, Madam Judith Dzokoto Lomoh and Mr Loius Akins were appointed as Ex-Officio Executive Members.
President of ARIO, Mr Moses K. Gyamfi, who doubles as a member of the GIS Council, expressed gratitude for the support the Association has received from the Service, particularly from the Comptroller General of Immigration, Mr. Kwame Asuah Takyi, whose unwavering dedication to enhancing their welfare has greatly benefited their endeavours.
According to him, the Association has been provided an office and a permanent meeting venue for their events, which he highlighted as major accomplishments and motivation to members.
Mr. Gyamfi described as novel, the establishment of the ARIO Fund by the Service which to him will go a long way to benefit the Association now and in the future.
Per his assertion, the Association is experiencing a substantial expansion, and to ensure the provision of welfare of its members, it is necessary to decentralize ARIO to cover the 19 Administrative Regions of the Service throughout the country so members can participate in the activities wherever they are. He appealed for a logistical support specifically a vehicle for the Association.
Mr Gyamfi thanked the outgoing executives for their contributions to the growth of the Association, and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the ARIO and pledged to work harder towards making the Association more appealing and attractive to potential retired officers of the GIS.
In his remarks, Comptroller General of Immigration (CGI) Mr Kwame Asuah Takyi lauded ARIO for their work in uniting retirees of the Service. In addition, he emphasised the need for retirees to continue to foster an atmosphere of brotherhood and serve as positive representatives of the Service wherever they find themselves.
Present at the ceremony were some members of National Immigration Management Committee of the Service.In attendance was the Migrant Band (GIS Dance Band) who entertained the gathering with tunes which kept patrons on their feet throughout the ceremony.
