At the Regional Coordinating Council, the Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI), Kwame Asuah Takyi, made a courtesy call on the Upper West Regional Minister, Dr. Hafiz Bin Salim.
Mr. Takyi is on a duty tour in the region, visiting Immigration facilities and interacting with officers.
The Regional Minister congratulated the immigration chief for his outstanding leadership skills, which have catapulted the Immigration Service to its current position.
Dr. Hafiz Bin Salim urged the Comptroller-General to send more police to the region to keep calm and boost security along the unauthorized routes that run along the Ghana-Burkina Faso border.
He also lauded the Immigration Service's efforts in promoting peace and security in the country. On his part, the Comptroller-General stated that the present transition in the Service is due to the government's persistent commitment to retooling the Immigration Service, which has resulted in the GIS expanding its jurisdiction into sectors, districts, and communities across the nation.
"The Ghana Immigration Service has never witnessed such stratospheric governmental backing in the procurement of weaponry and ammunition, cars, uniform, and its accessories, residential and office housing, and most critically, more than tripling its human resource base," according to the CGI.
Mr. Takyi urged those in attendance at the meeting of the Regional Security Council to seek more coordination among themselves to gain the people's support and confidence.
He referenced the Aflao Sector Command as an example of the various border authorities working together.
He informed the group that the GIS is distributing office space to members of various border agencies at the Service's newly opened departure and arrival offices.
In the past, when turf wars and working in silos were the norm, this would have been unthinkable.
"Terrorists will not distinguish between officers in blue and green uniforms; they will attack you all." So cooperating in the national interest is the preferable alternative," he stated.
Mr. Lawrence Agyei Agyapong, Assistant Commissioner of Immigration (ACI) and Chief Staff Officer, ACI, joined the Comptroller-General on his visit. ACI William Andoh and Thomas Ewuntoma, Head of Policy Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation (PPMED). The Upper West Regional Commander for Immigration, ACI Emmanuel Ashley, Special Aide to the CGI, Deputy Upper West Regional Commander Christopher Attivor, and C/Supt Michael Amoako-Atta, Head of Public Affairs were among the others.