Immigration Service receives IT gadgets to strengthen border control and migration management

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has received laptops and other IT gadgets to help improve border and migration management, thereby improving migration management.
The items, including a multi-function printer, a photocopier, a SMART TV, air conditioners, CCTV cameras and furniture, were purchased under the Strengthening Border Management and Migration in Ghana (SMMIG) project.

The 28 different items of varying value cost 350,000 euros and are intended to help GIS combat document fraud, improve intelligence gathering and analysis, strengthen investigations and prosecutions, and improve cybersecurity.

The SMMIG project is funded by the Danish Government and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).

The project has improved the competence of officers across the country and the equipment will support trained officers in the 19 administrative regions of the Ghana Immigration Service.

Mr. Kwame Asuah Takyi, Comptroller General of GIS, in his speech stated that migration management has become a key enabler for sustainable development and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, which requires concerted efforts by all stakeholders in the area of ​​migration management.
He expressed his appreciation to the donor partners and stated that cooperation and building lasting relationships are important for the implementation of the change project,

“We are extremely grateful for the technical support you have provided in the successful completion of all activities of this project. And I want to assure you that this equipment that we are handing over to you today will be put to good use,” said Mr. Takyi.

Ms Vibeke Sandholm Pedersen, Deputy Ambassador of Denmark and Head of Cooperation, said that GIS collects and processes confidential information about travellers on a daily basis, which is why a special cybersecurity unit was established and launched within the Service as part of the SMMIG project to ensure security.

She added that Danish funding under the SMMIG project has enabled several key initiatives to be implemented, including increasing the legal capacity of GIS documents to investigate, prosecute and obtain convictions for document fraud and other migration-related matters.

Ms Naana Eyiah, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, said cybersecurity was no longer a marginal issue as border management systems, databases and communication networks were vulnerable to cyberattacks.

She stated that security services around the world are grappling with cyber threats, cybercrime, attacks and espionage and that there is a need to leverage information and communication technologies, especially the Internet, to ensure the security, prosperity, development and protection of societies.