know the terrain and the realties on the ground, and the operational challenges of officers.
The tour which is the first of its kind took them to critical Sectors and Border Post in the region, such as Nkwanta, Menusu, Shia, Nyive, Akanu and Neope joint Border Project. The rest are Kpoglo, Ho Regional Office and the Afloa Sector Command.
The Director of Immigration, Commissioner of Police, (COP) Dr. Peter A. Wiredu during durbars held at the respective Sectors visited, admonished the personnel to exhibit professionalism in their line of duty and be extra vigilant at their various post in the light of the increase in trans- national border crime, terrorism and other menace which had the tendency of undermining the national security and their professional integrity .
The Director urged the personnel to intensify intelligence gathering and engage the services of informant in the sector so they can obtain necessary information as well as collaborate with other sister security agencies to protect and maintain peace and order for the sake of the nation.
Dr. Wiredu, threw light on the GIS Bill 2015, which is currently before parliament and awaiting to be passed into law. He said the Bill when passed would create two additional ranks for both the Junior and Senior Officers corps, the Head of the Service’s rank would change from a Director to Comptroller General, and give legal backing for personnel to bear arms and other newly created Units.
On that score, he disclosed that the Service had received a total of two hundred and fifty (250) decommissioned self loading Rifles (SLR) from the Ghana Armed Forces to assist the Service in the interim as the Interior Ministry is making plans to purchase new weapons for the Service. He added that preparation is underway to build an armory at the Headquarters.
He assured the Commands that as soon as ammunition is procured for the SLR’s, they would receive their allocation to enable effective patrolling, of the nation’s frontiers.
He asked the personnel stationed at the Sectors not to relent in giving off their best to improve the lot of the Service and that being left at a particular station for more than four years without transfer especially those in the remote part of the country does not mean they have been forgotten. He therefore assured them to expect their transfers any moment.
The Board Chairman of the GIS, Hon. Cletus Avoka, on his part affirmed the Boards commitment and dedication to the work entrusted to them by the President and to assist the management of the Service to achieve its objectives of tackling challenges they are facing. He said the Board appreciates the efforts of the personnel stationed at the various exit and entry points as well as sectors hence their working visit.
He told the personnel to eschew corruption, be disciplined and punctual, exhibit professionalism, be abreast with the rudiments of the job, know their terrain and serve as tourist guides to the foreigners who visit the nation since they are the first line of contact, hence he suggested to the Management of the Service to introduce Tourism as part of the Curriculum at the Training School.
He again stated that the personnel should not see transfers as a form of punishment, but rather an opportunity to learn and broaden their horizon. He was quick to add that the Board stands for fairness and equity and no personnel would be discriminated against when it comes to the issues of transfers, promotions and study leave.
Hon. Avoka, commended the Regional Commander and the personnel in the Region for a good work done despite the challenges and assured them of the Boards support at all times.
In a welcome address, the Acting Regional Commander, Comptroller of Immigration (COI) Prudence Aku Sasu, praised the Board Chairman and the Members for thinking about the Region and doing them the honour of visiting. She further stated that history had been made since this was the first time a Board of GIS has visited the Region.
Mrs Sasu assured the Board that the region would continue to do it best to generate more revenue for the Service, and appealed to the Board and the management of the Service to provide the region with the basic logistics it needs to enable officers perform their duties effectively and efficiently.
At the Sectors visited by the Board, the respective Commanders at the staff durbars organized took turns to address the Board and also enumerated their achievements and challenges. Some of the major challenges included lack of personnel, office and residential accommodation, logistics, communication gadgets, unstable internet connectivity, accoutrements for patrol etc.
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