GIS Comptroller-General (left) exchanging the signed copies of the MOU with Commissioner Crentsil
THE GHANA Immigration Service (GIS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) for the establishment of an integrated border management system.
Signed on Thursday at the Alisa Hotels in Accra, the MOU is to allow for the proper coordination of border operations nationwide by GIS and GRA in consonance with international best practices.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Commissioner-General of GRA, Emmanuel Kofi Nti, said the establishment of the joint border management committee “would lay a foundation for conflictless operations undertaken by the border agencies.”
“This would be possible because it is also our expectation that other agencies operating at the borders would, with time, become part of the system,” he said.
He called for an end to the era of conflict among personnel of the various border agencies nationwide which, according to him, usually arise as a result of ‘selfish’ interest at the expense of national interest.
“It is important to understand that each border agency is located there to serve the national interest. If the common purpose of the agencies at the borders is to serve the national interest, then why should there always be conflicts between them?” He queried in his statement which was delivered minutes before the signing of the MOU inside Botsio Hall of Alisa Hotel.
“It is my belief that the conflicts usually arise because instead of serving the common interest of the nation, personnel of the border agencies rather strive to serve their selfish interests,” he said.
Such conflicts, he said, affects the effective operations of the respective agencies and raise unnecessary tensions.
“It is for this reason that we should appreciate the efforts of these two organizations to come to an understanding that they would serve the national interest better if they are able to work together,” Mr. Nti said.
Comptroller-General of GIS, Kwame Asua Takyi, in a statement emphasized the need for both institutions to work in harmony in order to protect the interest of the state and enhance cross border trade, movement of people and security.
He bemoaned conflicts among border agencies in the past which created conducive atmosphere for various criminal activities such as smuggling and human trafficking.
Commissioner, Customs Division of GRA, Isaac Crentsil indicated that the integration will commence with a pilot exercise at the Aflao Border in the Volta Region and will subsequently be rolled out across the other parts of the country.
Minister of Interior, Ambrose Derry in a speech read on his behalf observed that the MOU would go a long way to promote national security at the country’s borders.
BY Melvin Tarlue