Border Patrol Officers of the Ghana Immigration Service has received assurances from the Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI), Lawyer Kwame Asuah-Takyi that they would be armed before Christmas this year.
The CGI disclosed this after inspecting the Saru, Sawla Kabla, Tanglyiri, Saru, Vouvou and Kalba unapproved routes yesterday in the Savannah Region.
He said, government has released funds for the purchase of arms for personnel at the borders and has been procured presently been shipped to Ghana. Adding that Officers should be rest assured they would be provided with arms before christmas this year for their protection and border security intensification.
Lawyer Kwame Asuah – Takyi stated, ¨every challenge there should be solutions…..as for the arms we have been complaining that government has not be supplying us with arms, its been done, its gone through the process and its been shipped to the country for distribution¨.
He however quickly cautioned his Men to remain discipline and not be tempted to misbehave when using the arms during patrols.
The CGI was emphatic and reiterated that Government is supporting the GIS especially with the revamping of the Border Patrol Unit which has now been upgraded into a Border Patrol Department.
He said, ¨the President through the sector Minister of Interior has assured the Service of improvement in the GIS, and I am optimistic that the President will deliver on his word just as he has already began in other areas of developmental projects ongoing in the country. When the President says something he delivers¨, he stressed.
The visit to border posts and unapproved routes forms part of a nine-day working tour currently on-going by Comptroller-General of Immigration to all GIS installations in the Northern, Savannah and Upper West Regions.
Accompanying the CGI are Chief Staff Officer, Chief Superintendent of Immigration (CSI) Lawrence Agyei Agyapong , Head of Protocol, Deputy Superintendent of Immigration (DSI) Linda Asare-Mantey and the GIS Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Immigration (ASI) Gifty Amgborme.