56 Days to general election: Interior Minister charges Immigration Service

The Minister for the Interior, Henry Quartey, has charged officers of the Ghana Immigration Service [GIS] to institute proactive measures to prevent the infiltration of unwanted foreign elements in the country as it heads to the general election on December 7.

That, he explained, was due to the increase in terrorism and violent extremism in sub-Saharan Africa in recent years, which had fuelled political instability, especially during election periods.

“In today’s intricate and ever-evolving threat to our landscape, our collective responsibility to ensure safety and security for our country has never been more critical. As such we, as security officers, must stay vigilant, proactive and collaborate to counter any emerging risks,” Mr Quartey told the GIS officers.

The Minister for the Interior gave the charge in a speech read on his behalf by a Deputy Interior Minister, Naana Eyiah, at a Management and Regional Commanders conference of GIS in the Eastern Regional capital, Koforidua.

The conference was on the theme; “Elections and National Security; The Operations of the Ghana Immigration Service’’.

Violence-free

Mr Quartey said although every general election in Ghana had been peaceful, the government would not take it for granted, and as such would not relent in its responsibility to conduct violence-free elections.

He indicated that the government had resourced key stakeholders, including the GIS, in their preparedness to man the country’s borders at this time of the year.

The GIS, the Interior Minister stated, as the lead agency of border management should be prepared for that task.

Collective responsibility, vigilance

Mr Quartey, however, indicated that since security was a collective responsibility that should not be shouldered by a single institution, the GIS should collaborate with  sister security agencies to ensure the territorial integrity of the country.

He further explained that if the borders were not infiltrated by unwanted persons, that would ensure peaceful elections.

Effective border control, the Interior Minister indicated, would enhance Ghana’s security and facilitate travel and trade for development, while on the other hand, poor border management could lead to serious security risks to the country.

Mr Quartey praised the current leadership of the GIS which had forged stronger ties with key partners to strengthen Ghana’s territorial borders to reduce irregular migration, and prevent terrorism, and violent extremism and trans-nationally organised crimes.

Security Concerns

The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kwame Asuah Takyi, added that this year’s general election posed security concerns, and that GIS would be proactive, vigilant and prepared to mitigate potential risks, especially at the borders, for the elections to be conducted smoothly.

He said the GIS would, therefore, enhance strategies such as border security through surveillance, intelligence monitoring and tactical response to potential threats to the December polls.

That, Mr Asuah Takyi said, would be accomplished by policing border communities to facilitate easy movement of people, goods and services to promote peace before, during and after the elections.