Government has set up three new training facilities to enhance the training of officers in the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS).

These facilities consist of a Mid-Country School located in Tepa, Ashanti Region, a Tactical Training School situated in Kyebi, Eastern Region, and a Centre of Excellence established at Odorkor, Greater Accra Region.

Vice President Bawumia disclosed this development during the parade review of Cadet Intake 17 at the Immigration Service Academy and Training School in Assin Fosu, Central Region.

The government's intervention aims to equip the first line of the country's border defense with specialized vehicles, equipment, and arms to safeguard Ghanaians.

The passing-out ceremony of the GIS marked the first event after the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions.

“You will agree with me that the Service occupies a strategic position toward achieving peace and security as well as economic prosperity,” Vice President Bawumia stated.

A total of 357 Cadets completed a seven-month rigorous training program, covering various aspects such as Immigration Law, Practices, and Procedures, Migration Management, Operational Planning, Criminal Procedures, Intelligence Gathering, Investigations, Travel Document Management, Map Reading, Navigation, and the French language.

The Ghana Immigration Service plays a vital role in managing the country's borders, ensuring proper monitoring of goods and individuals entering and leaving the nation, issuing visas to non-Ghanaians, and contributing to national security, trade, and investment facilitation.

Vice President Bawumia assured that the government would continue to provide the necessary logistical support for the GIS to fulfill its mandate effectively. The Service will be equipped with specialized surveillance equipment, regional offices, residential accommodation, and other critical operational logistics.

“I’m pleased to announce that the Government has delivered its promise of procuring arms and ammunition for the Service to boost its operations and enhance security at the borders,” he said.

“The GIS would be equipped with specialized surveillance equipment, regional offices, residential accommodation, and other critical operational logistics,” he added.

He stressed the importance of adopting a more innovative and robust approach to managing migration in the face of ever-changing global security dynamics. The government has already introduced modern technology, such as the paperless input of traveler's data at Kotoka International Airport and the use of the Ghana card as an e-passport, establishing the identity of Ghanaians through their fingerprints. This will help preserve travel history and enhance migration management in the collective interest of the State.

Vice President Bawumia also commended the positive relationship and cooperation between the Ghana Immigration Service and sister security agencies, with some of these agencies utilizing the Service's training facility for their personnel.

“This is why the Government of President Akufo-Addo believes that the GIS has to adopt a more innovative and robust approach to managing migration in the collective interest of the State. I know you have embraced modern technology as the most reliable tool for reaching this goal. Evidence of this is the implementation of technology put in place for the paperless input of traveler’s data at the Kotoka international airport in March 2023.

“We have also seen some level of implementation of the Ghana card as an e-passport (with the Ghana card the identity of people can be established using their fingerprints). Ghana Missions and other Embassies abroad will be able to establish the identity of Ghanaians using their fingerprints. Identity can even be established without the Ghana card if you have been enrolled on the database. The Ghana card is also being linked with existing passports so that travel history will be preserved.”