The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing Ghana’s border and migration security, describing it as a national priority in the face of evolving security challenges.
He underscored the critical role of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and assured that the Ministry of the Interior would continue to prioritise the allocation of resources to enhance operational
readiness.
The Minister made these remarks in Accra yesterday at the inauguration of the GIS Centre of Excellence and an 84-unit residential complex for its officers.
The residential project comprises 42 two-bedroom and 42 three-bedroom apartments, constructed to provide decent housing for GIS personnel.
The Centre of Excellence includes executive lecture halls, a cafeteria, executive hostels, a clinic, and other critical infrastructure to support advanced post-entry training and skills development in
migration management.
According to Mr Muntaka Mubarak, the new facility would serve as a hub for innovation and capacity building, empowering immigration personnel to respond effectively to emerging migration and security challenges.
“We are committed to bridging the infrastructure gap to ensure that personnel of the security services have the necessary logistics to perform their duties effectively,”he stated, noting that longstanding accommodation and office space deficits have hampered the service’s performance, particularly in rapid mobilisation and deployment.
Moreover, the Minister used the opportunity to caution against poor maintenance of the newly constructed residential units and pledged full support to the Comptroller-General to evict any officer who failed to care for the property properly.
He also encouraged the Immigration Service to adopt a comprehensive maintenance plan and promote good community living practices, including regular cleaning routines to preserve the facility’s condition and reputation.
Addressing the ceremony, the Comptroller-General of the service, Samuel Basintale Amadu, expressed gratitude to the government of Ghana for their unwavering support to the service, noting that the completion of the project reflects the government’s recognition of the GIS’s essential role in national security and economic development.
The Comptroller-General also stated that the Centre of Excellence would serve not only GIS officers but also institutions requiring immigration-related training, saying that, “The Centre would enhance our ability to ensure the safety and dignity of migrants while promoting national security and development.”
Mr Amadu further emphasised that the new accommodation would boost officer morale and productivity by improving their living conditions. “As we commission these facilities, we reaffirm our commitment to excellence, professionalism, and service to the nation,”he added.
He concluded with a firm reminder that beneficiaries of the accommodation must adhere to occupancy conditions. “I will personally take interest to ensure that inspections are done properly, and if you are found not to be keeping your place properly, we will eject you,”he cautioned.
BY STEPHANIE BIRIKORANG
