General News of Tuesday, 11 July 2017
Source: citifmonline.com
2017-07-11
Ghana Immigration Service
The Ghana Immigration Service has opened a new border post in Agortime-Afegame in the Volta Region to improve surveillance in fighting cross-border crimes.
Although West Africa is one of the most mobile regions in the world, systems and structures to manage the increasing movements and its accompanying crimes are mostly inadequate and ineffective.
The porous borders have become a haven for individuals involved in organised cross-border crimes including smuggling of goods and the trafficking of foreign nationals for forced labour and sexual exploitation.
In addressing the challenges of migration in the country, a joint effort from the Ghana Immigration Service and the International Organization for Migration with funding from the European Union, have embarked on a three-year project to increase surveillance at the country’s frontiers.
The project, dubbed Ghana Integrated Migration Management Approach (GIMMA), sought to provide the needed skills and logistics to government institutions in effectively managing migrations.
The Agortime-Afegame project includes provision of a well-furnished office accommodation, ICT Devices and other deliverables.
Speaking at the commissioning of the border posts in the Volta Region, Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration, Ms Sylvia Lopez-Ekra, said the fight against cross border crimes needs a multi-dimensional approach since offenders keep outwitting the systems.
She added the three year project involves development of legal frameworks, training official of the Ghana Immigration Service on the evolving approaches of managing irregular migrations among others.
In an address read on behalf of the Controller General of the Ghana Immigration Service by the Volta Regional Commander, DCI Isaac Owusu Mensah, the Service expressed their appreciation to the European Union and its implementing partners.
He said the gesture came at an opportune time as it would help the service effectively control its borders in the wake of the increasing cases of human trafficking in the country.
He further assured sponsors of the project of the service’s resolve to commit to the efficient use the facilities.
