Kwame Asuah Takyi
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), one of the national security institutions in the country, has a unique role to play in a sub-region threatened by the attacks of terrorists and insurgents.
Unfortunately, it has not been spared the recklessness of so-called mercenary commentators concealing themselves in hideouts in distant lands.
In yesterday’s issue, the agency had cause to respond to a certain video which was deliberately put out to present the institution as not performing up to expectation.
An exercise in futility has been embarked upon by those who do not have positive intentions for this country, as they set out to single out state institutions for image destruction. They would rather the country is overrun by insurgents so they can turn round and deride government for not living up to its billing of securing the territorial integrity of Ghana.
When people display their ignorance about the realities on the ground especially, in matters as delicate as national security, it is not easy to tell where they are coming from.
Other security agencies have had their unfair share of such machinations.
In a social media age, hiring others to engage in campaigns of image-denting is so easy to do. The snag in such matters is however that, the lies spewed are inconsistent with the realities.
During the tenure of the current government, the GIS has turned out to be one of the most favoured. This fact is driven by the government’s appreciation of the importance of security on our frontiers and ensuring that the institution is endowed its due so it can play its part as contained in the National Security Strategy document, whose launching took place last year.
Only ignorance would make a mercenary commentator regard personnel on border duties sleeping in tents as an infraction.
As a paramilitary establishment, the training regime includes time outside the comfort zones of the lecture rooms because after all, the security of our porous borders is done not in air-conditioned rooms, but in the bush. Shouldn’t recruits and cadets therefore be initiated into the life in the service?
President Akufo-Addo has raised the morale of personnel in the GIS with the provision of modern facilities and firearms to enhance their operation. It was unimaginable in previous times how GIS personnel secured our frontiers unarmed.
The active mischievous elements forget that the GIS is today performing the role played by the erstwhile Border Guards of the Ghana Army in years gone by.
Without prejudice to the contents of the GIS’ rejoinder, we wish to state that the security agency has witnessed a phenomenal growth since the current Comptroller-General took over the rein of leadership of the security agency under the Presidency of Nana Akufo-Addo.
Let us give credit where this is due and avoid the ungodly phenomenon of destroying pubic officers who have served this country with all their hearts.