Ghana Immigration Service Marks One Year of Reforms with Record Revenue and Stronger Border Control

The Ghana Immigration Service has reported significant progress in operations, revenue generation, and institutional reforms one year after the appointment of its Comptroller-General, Samuel Basintale Amadu.

Appointed in March 2025 by John Dramani Mahama, Mr. Amadu assumed office with a mandate to modernise the Service, strengthen border security, and enhance efficiency through technology-driven systems.

Revenue Growth and Improved Services

Over the past year, the Service generated more than GH¢546 million in revenue, largely driven by reforms in visa and permit processing. Officials disclosed that 186,959 permits and visas were issued within the period, marking a 32.5 percent increase compared to the previous year.

The surge has been linked to upgraded digital systems and automation, which have significantly reduced processing times and improved transparency in service delivery.

The Service also successfully handled more than 2.8 million passenger movements across the country’s entry points without major incidents, contributing to national initiatives such as the “December in Ghana” tourism campaign.

Tightened Border Security and Enforcement

Border security efforts have intensified under the new leadership, with coordinated operations leading to the interception of various contraband items. These included smuggled cocoa beans, narcotics such as Tramadol, suspected Indian hemp, ammunition, and other illegal goods.

Authorities reported that 909 individuals were intercepted at entry points and checkpoints, while 7,204 inspections resulted in 3,533 arrests linked to immigration-related offences.

Boost in Intelligence and Fraud Detection

The Service has strengthened its intelligence operations, processing 666 intelligence requests in collaboration with partner agencies. Out of 29 cases prosecuted, 28 resulted in convictions involving offences such as illegal entry, fraud, cybercrime, and QNET-related scams.

At the Document Fraud Expertise Centre, 932 suspected cases were examined, with over a third confirmed as fraudulent, underscoring both the scale of document fraud and improved detection capabilities.

Training and Capacity Development

To enhance professionalism, more than 970 officers underwent specialised training in areas including counter-terrorism, crisis management, and border security. The Service also partnered with the Youth Employment Agency and the National Ambulance Service to train community-based medical first responders.

International collaborations, including support from the European Union Security and Defence Initiative, have further strengthened internal training through capacity-building programmes.

Infrastructure and Global Partnerships

Infrastructure expansion projects are ongoing in key cities such as Tema, Kumasi, Tamale, Cape Coast, Sunyani, Sekondi-Takoradi, and Damongo, aimed at improving decentralised service delivery.

On the international stage, the Service has deepened cooperation with the International Organization for Migration and engaged in knowledge exchanges with immigration authorities from Rwanda, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

Looking Ahead

As part of its forward strategy, the Service is advancing Project SECOBOR (Secure Our Borders), a public-private partnership designed to address logistical and surveillance gaps.

Plans are also underway to introduce a private mutual health insurance scheme and establish a staff endowment fund to improve officer welfare and long-term sustainability.

Officials say the ongoing reforms signal a shift towards a more modern, intelligence-led, and responsive immigration system aligned with global standards.

Writer’s Name: Andre Mustapha Nii Okai Inusah
Popularly Known As: Attractive Mustapha
Email: attractivemustapha@gmail.com
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