The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) is urging the public to report any incidents of its officers engaging in extortion at Immigration Inland Checkpoints.

This call to action is prompted by allegations that certain officers stationed at these checkpoints, particularly at the Northern frontiers of the country, have been involved in extorting money from members of the public.

GIS in a statement issued stated “It has come to the attention of the Management of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) that some Officers stationed at the Immigration Inland Checkpoints are alleged to be extorting monies from members of the public, especially at the Northern frontiers of the country,” GIS said on a statement.

“Any member of the public who is extorted by an Immigration Officer at any of the inland checkpoints is to take note of his or her name tag and the duty post where it occurred and report to the nearest Immigration Service Office or the Immigration Professional Standards and Ethics Section at the Regional or National Headquarters,” GIS added.

The statement explained that the purpose of the inland checkpoints is to serve as an additional layer of passenger profiling. This is done to effectively prevent the entry of extremist groups into the country, ensuring national security and the safety of travelers.

“These inland checkpoints are technically a part of the border lines and consequently have security protocols that members of the traveling public are to follow.”

The Ghana Immigration Service further cautioned Commanders in the various regions and sectors to ensure that officers posted to these checkpoints conduct themselves professionally.