Immigration Service take steps to enforce standards

The Management of Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has inaugurated a new Unit to ensure discipline and adherence to standards among its personnel.

The Unit, called the Immigration Professional Standards and Ethics Unit (IPSEU) is made of 42 Officers of the Service drawn from both Senior and Junior ranks of the Service.

In his keynote address at the inauguration ceremony of IPSEU, the Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI), Mr. Kwame Asuah Takyi disclosed that the increase in staff strength and the need to maintain paramilitary standards necessitated the establishment of IPSEU.

He explained that IPSEU was mandated to monitor, enforce and improve on the standards of professionalism among its personnel in the discharge of their duties to the country especially its clients.

“The maintenance or exhibition of high standards by Officers is very important in discharging the mandate and attainment of the vision of the GIS,” he said.

The CGI admonished all Officers of the Service to eschew all forms of unprofessionalism and unlawful behaviors that would warrant them been subjected to the Disciplinary Code of the Service, adding that, management of the Service would ensure that those who fell foul of the Service Disciplinary Code would be dealt with in accordance with the Service Regulations.

He pointed out that “a society that does not allow its rules and regulations to work cannot stand the test of time.”

The CGI called on Officers to place integrity of the profession, their allegiance to the State and the interest of clients above their interest. “Integrity, competence and respect should be hallmark of Officers of the Service,” he added.

He pledged his support to the success of IPSEU and entreated its personnel to ensure Officers of the Service at all times act professionally so as not to tarnish the hard-won reputation of the Service.

“We are fully behind the setting up of the Unit and will do whatever it takes for it to succeed,” he stressed.

Mr. Kwame Asuah Takyi implored personnel of the Unit to display high sense of discipline that would give credence to their selection as pioneers of IPSEU, adding that, they were expected to live above reproach.

In his remarks, the Commanding Officer of the Military Police Unit of the Ghana Armed Forces, Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col.) Francis Kojo Bannerman asked personnel of IPSEU to be custodian of discipline in the GIS and exhibit a high sense of accountability and loyalty.

He entreated them to ‘walk the talk’ and put into use what they had learned.

The establishment of the Professional Standards and Ethics Unit is in fulfillment of provisions contained in the Immigration Service Act of 2016, ACT 908 and its Regulations.