The minister receiving a commemorative plaque from CGI, Kwame Asuah Takyi
The Minister of the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak says the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government will not go on a wild goose chase on mere allegations of corruption against public officials, but will rather investigate them based on evidence.
The minister, who said this when he addressed staff of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) during his maiden visit to the headquarters in Accra on Tuesday, said the government would not channel its energies and resources into complaints and comments against individuals without receiving ample evidence to substantiate such claims.
He said, “I can assure you that we are not interested in witch-hunting, we will only investigate issues that are necessary to be investigated. If you have anything that you think will be of importance to us, please come forward with facts so that we will be able to investigate whatever there is that may be creating problems.
“Once anything is of interest that can affect our national security, the morale of the service, you can be assured that we will investigate them. We are not going to go on a wild goose chase simply because people are saying things or making comments or complaining, we will only be interested in correcting wrongs.”
The minister also stated that given the current economic difficulties facing the country, the government will leverage on Public Private Partnership (PPP) to improve the services within the Interior Ministry.
He, however, said that though Public Private Partnership would be a major driver to ensure services that are needed by the security services are provided, government would ensure the partnership does not interfere with the internal security at the ministry.
The minister commended the management of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) led by the Comptroller-General, Kwame Asuah Takyi, for the reforms and improvement over the years which has not only helped in securing the country’s borders but has also attracted many young people into the profession.
He further assured the staff of government’s commitment to continuously retool the Service given the critical role played by GIS in the management of the country’s borders.
“We know that issues of promotion, issues of transfers, issues of accommodation are of serious concern to all of you. As His Excellency John Mahama’s representative, I will assure you that we will work hard to retool you and make you prepared and ready to keep our borders safe, so that the generality of Ghanaians can feel safe,” he added.
Comptroller-General, Kwame Asuah Takyi, for his part, said that though GIS has made tremendous gains in the delivery of its mandate, particularly in securing the country’s borders, improvements in office infrastructure, accommodation for officers, manpower and operational activities, the Service still requires government support to help address its challenges.
He assured the minister of management’s commitment to ensure that measures that were put in place to address some of the challenges facing them such as revenue leakages are greatly enhanced, while thanking the minister for the maiden visit to GIS.
The minister, who inspected a guard of honour at the forecourt of the headquarters, was also presented with a commemorative plaque for the visit.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah