The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has launched a 'Secure Borders, Stable Country, Safe People' campaign to sensitize the public on the need to collaborate with its officers to ensure a secure and stable nation.
According to the GIS, the groundbreaking initiative is evidence to the institutions commitment to safeguarding the country’s borders, ensuring a stable environment, and protecting the well-being of citizens.
Speaking at the launch, Public Relations Officer of GIS, Chief Superintendent Michael Amoako Atta said, “This initiative reflects our dedication to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and accountability within our ranks, ultimately contributing to a safer and more secure nation.”
He added that as an important institution of national security, the Ghana Immigration Service recognized the importance of ensuring ethical behavior among its officers to maintain secure borders in an ever-changing world.
The "Secure Borders, Stable Country, Safe People" campaign, he stressed embodies GIS’s vision to become a model Immigration Service for Migration Management and National Security and to provide a safer and more prosperous Ghana, where every citizen and resident can thrive.
GIS says it is inviting all Ghanaians, stakeholders, and the international community to join in this endeavor to create a more secure, stable, and safe Ghana for all.
The campaign, which is based on the newly published Code of Conduct and the Reporting Mechanism, aims at promoting integrity, accountability, and transparency in Ghana's border management by raising awareness among the broader population on the expected ethical behaviours and modalities of officers and reporting mechanism for incongruent behaviours.
He also noted that the Triple S Campaign aims to promote integrity, accountability and transparency in the Ghana Immigration Service by raising awareness primarily among the general public on expected professional and ethical standards.
He hinted that while officers continue to be trained and sensitized to uphold optimum professionalism, the public will be educated through this campaign to report unprofessional conducts from officers.
"The GIS contributes to National Security by tackling immigration-related crimes; collaborating with National Security, Intelligence and other agencies; Cooperating with international stakeholders to improve the quality of operations and detecting and preventing threats at the country's borders"
"The Code builds the capacity of the officers, establishes the right ethical framework and empowers the citizens with ethical knowledge to achieve this priority.
Together, we strengthen our first line of defense"
"GIS ensures safety of the people by deterring, detecting, and preventing border crossings at unauthorized crossing points and preventing the entry of miscreants"
"GIS invests in the safety and well-being of Ghanaian citizens, as they secure the borders and for a stable country. It is only in safety that our people can go about their business.
A commitment to ensuring the people are safe"
The PRO disclosed that Management of the Service are committed to an assurance of quality through intensified training, strict discipline, constant learning and improvement.
This, he further explained was evident in the recent disciplinary actions taken against Officers for various offenses and the speed with which misconduct is addressed according to the provisions of our laws.
"However, just as we strive to enforce laws against the civilian public without fear or favor, we shall continue to hold our feet to the fire in line with the Service’s vision to become a model Service for Migration Management and National Security"
Background
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) on August 10, 2023, launched its Code of Conduct and Reporting Mechanism, as part of the Strengthening Border Security in Ghana (SBS Ghana) project.
The specific objective of the SBS Ghana project is to contribute to the development of the long-term capability of Ghana border control authorities, in particular GIS, to control and manage its borders, to update border management information and communication systems and to ensure greater security for citizens and visitors while guaranteeing the respect for the rule of law and human rights standards.
In light of this, the GIS Code of Conduct and reporting mechanism was developed to promote good governance principles within the Service while developing an internal (GIS staff) and external (population) reporting mechanism to enhance integrity.
The Code is intended to provide the personnel of the Service and the Public with a clear understanding of the principles, values and ethical standards expected of an Immigration officer at all times. The GIS Code sets the rules outlining social norms, responsibilities, guide the conduct of all officers in the agency, and ensure that integrity, and good reputation is maintained.
It aims to develop the institutional culture and responsibility of GIS staff, support their professional ethical values when dealing with superiors, colleagues and the public, and to provide the best service to enhance confidence and credibility in GIS.
Head of Immigration Professional Standards and Ethics (IPSE) Section, Assistant Commissioner of Immigration (ACI) Philip Andoh was optimistic that the campaign will not only help sensitize the public on the need to collaborate with its officers to ensure a secure and stable nation but also challenge the public to report officer who are tarnishing the image of the Service at their various locations.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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