Rev. Wengam presenting a document on the SECOBOR project to President Mahama
The Governing Council of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) is advocating the launch of an innovative project, code-named Operation Secure Our Borders (SECOBOR), a public-private sector initiative aimed at mobilising resources to address critical operational and welfare needs of the Service.
The proposal was disclosed by the Chairman of the GIS Governing Council, Rev. Stephen Yenusom Wengam, during a meeting at the Jubilee House, where he led a delegation to brief President John Mahama on the Service’s strategic direction and emerging priorities.
Rev. Wengam expressed confidence that SECOBOR would significantly strengthen the capacity of the GIS and enhance its contribution to national security and development.
He warned that weak border controls continue to expose the country to smuggling, human trafficking, and illicit trade, all of which pose serious threats to public safety.
The Council Chairman proposed that many of the Service’s challenges, including inadequate accommodation, vehicles, and motorbikes, could be addressed if the GIS is allowed to retain at least 80 percent of its Internally Generated Funds (IGF) for a five-year period, after which the current retention levels could be restored.
Providing figures to support his case, Rev. Wengam revealed that in 2025, the GIS generated GH¢546,042,386, of which GH¢218,416,954 (40 percent) was retained.
Of this amount, 25 percent was allocated to the construction of the GIS National Headquarters complex, leaving only 15 percent for administrative and operational activities.
He also disclosed that the Service is ready to spearhead the implementation of an electronic visa system in collaboration with relevant ministries and agencies, as part of its broader digital transformation agenda.
Rev. Wengam stressed that modernising border control systems is critical to supporting a resilient 24-hour economy.
“A functioning 24-hour economy requires secure, efficient, and continuously operating borders,” he said, noting that only 12 out of Ghana’s 48 approved border crossing points are currently automated.
He expressed appreciation to President Mahama for providing strategic leadership that has strengthened the GIS’s role in safeguarding Ghana’s sovereignty and promoting regional cooperation.
In response, President Mahama reaffirmed the government’s commitment to retooling and modernising the Service.
“We are working hard to resolve logistical challenges and improve the working conditions of immigration officers so they can effectively deliver on their mandate,” he said.
The President also commended Rev. Wengam for his leadership, citing his legacy at the Ghana Prisons Service, including the transformative “Project Efiase,” and his current role in advancing SECOBOR at the GIS.
Minister for the Interior, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, underscored the urgent need to improve welfare and accommodation for immigration officers, particularly those stationed in remote and high-risk areas.
He further announced that seven new regional immigration offices are under construction nationwide to enhance service delivery and strengthen border management.
A Daily Guide Report