ICT-driven strategic plan for Ghana Immigration Service launched

Ghana Immigration Service has launched a technologically based strategy aimed at carrying out its operations effectively and also to manage emerging global challenges of migration.

The 60-page draft document covers issues related to human resource, law and politics, stakeholder co-operation, equipment and infrastructure, funding and Information Communication and Technology.

Explaining further, Deputy Commissioner for Ghana Immigration Service, Eric Afari said the five-year plan formulated for 2018 to 2022 will enhance staff welfare, provide adequate infrastructure and review international laws to be in line with international best practices.

"We believe that the focal areas outlined in the plan will complement and reinforce each other and also make the immigration service efficient in delivering migration management and national security". he maintained

At the launch held in Accra on 13th June 2018, Mr Afari stressed that the strategic plan would help curb irregular migration, smuggling, among others, and would provide better services in line with best practices.

He explained that the country is faced with increasing migratory movement and challenges which had become more complex and hence was necessary to come up with a new idea to deal with such challenges.

The deputy commissioner also said the development of the strategic plan was necessary to translate the vision and mission of the Ghana Immigration Service into broadly defined goals and objectives which can be achieved.

The five-year long project would be funded by the European Union, ECOWAS, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) as well as other consortiums.