Ghana Immigration Service boils

Information reaching Daily Guide indicates that there is uneasy calm in the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), which is likely to create turmoil if immediate steps are not taken to forestall it.

The paper can confirm that senior and junior staff of the Service are grumbling over the continuous stay in office of three senior officers who have attained the mandatory retirement age in accordance with Article 199 of the 1992 Constitution.

But the three persons have been allowed to hold their positions for unknown reasons. Several members have expressed concern about the development.

According to the aggrieved security capos, who spoke to Daily Guide in some of the regions across the country, the senior officers no longer implement developmental projects for the advancement of GIS and should be shown the exit.

The officers, who are believed to be planning an uprising according to Daily Guide's investigations of imposing them on personnel of the Service to promote its parochial interest.

The current acting Director of the GIS and two of his deputies in acting positions should have retired in accordance with the Civil Service Act.

Whereas COP Dr. Peter A. Wiredu was expected to hand over officially on March 6, 2012, his subordinates, Assistant Director of Immigration (ADI) Daniel Taabazuing, a Deputy Director in charge of operations and ADI Veronica Addy another Deputy Director in charge of Finance and Administration of the service should have retired on December 2011 and March 16th 2012 respectively.

According to sources at the GIS, the officers would embark on a demonstration later this week and lockout the officers who they claim had outlived their usefulness in the Service.

Daily Guide can confirm that series of industrial strike actions would be embarked upon to compel the senior officers to proceed on mandatory retirement.

A source at GIS alleged that they superintend over ineffectiveness in view of their alliance with the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) which had orchestrated their continuous stay in office despite the presence of competent persons.

Daily Guide investigations revealed that officers of the Service were incensed upon hearing that the three had acquired three Toyota Landcruiser V8 vehicles, three Mitsubishi Pajaro cross-country vehicles and the latest Toyota Camry cars for their use.

Checks by the paper indicate that whereas the Landcruisers are meant for official duties, the Mitsubishi Pajaros are for operational purposes while the saloon cars would be used domestically.

Questions have been raised about the lack of official vehicles for regional commanders in the Upper East, Ashanti and Eastern Regions.

The paper's sources said some regional commanders were using commercial vehicles to and from work.

A source at the Accra office said the development was negatively affecting radical transformation of the Service and could result in unrest.

He noted that the current leadership was not working to promote the interest of the service and country in general, accusing them of conniving with expatriates, especially the Chinese to invade the country.

The senior officers, who have been accused of extorting monies from officers and men before effecting their transfer to so-called good stations in the country are said to have succumbed to the manipulation of the Service by politicians.

Apart from victimizing other senior colleagues in the Service, they have been accused of intimidating persons who question their alleged unlawful authority in some instances.