GIS Strategic Plan provides a Roadmap for Efficiency – Ambrose Derry

Minister of Interior, Ambrose Derry, has said the Ghana Immigration Service’s (GIS) 7years Strategic Plan provides a perfect guideline for an efficient immigration system that meets the social and economic needs of the country.

The Minister, speaking at the launch of the 2023-2029 Strategic Plan assured stakeholders of the commitment of government in the implementation of the plan to improve migration and security in Ghana.

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) since 2011 has developed various strategic plans to guide its operation and administrative activities. The 2023-2029 Strategic plan seeks to change the face of migration management by operating an efficient and fair immigration through digitalization.  The Plan has been classified into four distinct but interdependent components of Border Management, transitional Crime Prevention, enforcement and organizational drivers.

In his address, the Minister of Interior and Guest of honor at the launch, Ambrose Derry noted that, the strategic plan falls inline with Governments drive of digitalization as the service also rides on digitalization to improve various aspects of the immigration management systems of the country.

“This strategic plan provides a roadmap for the Ghana Immigration Service to operate an efficient, fair and firm immigration system that meets the social and economic needs of the country. It also provides effective monitoring and evaluation systems that will guide in engaging the performance of the Ghana immigration Service.”

“Each component (of the strategic plan) has clearly spelled out strategies to facilitate the transformational agenda”

“I want to assure the service of the commitment of the government of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo to support the implementation of this strategic plan” he noted.

The Minister ceased the opportunity to laud the Comptroller -General of Immigration, Kwame Asuah Takyi for his exceptional leadership of the Ghana Immigration Service (GII) over the years.

On his part, the Comptroller- General of the Ghana Immigration Service, Kwame Asuah Takyi stated that though the implementation of the strategic plan lays in the hands of the management and officers of the service, the success of the plan will largely depend on various stakeholder linkages and collaborations. He assured of building synergy among all stakeholders in the migration management arena in the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Mr. Asuah Takyi further asserted that funding is key to the successful implementation of the plan and called on all stakeholders to support the service at all times to achieve the stated objectives of the 7years strategic plan. He noted that the survival of GIS depends on sound strategic decisions effectively implemented with all hands-on deck.

“the formulation of a plan, does not in itself translates to the attainment of objectives set out in it, but rather how to effectively the plan is implemented. Indeed, the long-term survival of GIS, depends on sound strategic decisions effectively implemented. Will therefore require all hands-on deck to realize our vision.”

“For next seven years, I want to assure you as the Comptroller-General with support from the management members, Council and the Minister of interior, we will push this strategic plan and special thanks to the Government of Denmark and ICMPD for facilitating the process of offering technical support. I am very optimistic that we are poised for the implementation of the 2023-2029 strategic plan” he added.

A representative of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), Amala Obiokoyo- Nwalor in her remark, noted that, the new strategic plan is funded by the Government of Denmark under the Strengthening Border and Migration Management in Ghana (SMMIG) project implemented by International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).

She further opined that, migration governance is not a one-agency job and that other government institutions, development partners and Non-State actors must all rally round the GIS and support the implementation of the ambitious plan.

She affirms the commitment of ICMPD to supporting the Government of Ghana in its efforts of governing migration in a safe, orderly and humane manner.

The launch was attended by some Ministers of state, Senior officers of the service, Members of the Diplomatic corps, Members of the Defense and interior committee of parliament.