"Sustainable border security relies on mutual trust with communities" — Immigration Boss

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has launched its Community Engagement and Policing (CEP) Strategy, together with a comprehensive curriculum and training manual, aimed at strengthening border governance and deepening collaboration between law enforcement and local communities.

The CEP Strategy represents a significant shift from traditional enforcement-focused border management to a people-centred and community-driven approach, particularly in border and coastal communities where vulnerabilities to irregular migration, human trafficking, and transnational organised crime are high.

Under the new framework, community members are recognised as critical partners in safeguarding national security and promoting sustainable development.

Speaking at the launch ceremony held in Accra, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mr Samuel Basintale Amadu, underscored the importance of community trust in effective border management, stating that “sustainable border security relies on mutual trust and open communication with communities.”

He explained that the CEP Strategy provides a structured and practical guide for GIS officers to engage communities respectfully, build confidence, and encourage cooperation in addressing security challenges.

Mr Amadu expressed appreciation to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and key development partners, including the German Federal Foreign Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, for their technical expertise and financial support in developing the strategy, curriculum, and training materials.

The launch coincided with the commemoration of International Migrants’ Day 2025, observed globally under the theme “Migrate: Stories, Cultures,” reinforcing the link between humane migration governance and sustainable development.

As part of the implementation plan, Mr Amadu announced that training-of-trainers workshops would be conducted early next year to ensure nationwide rollout of the strategy.

He said the CEP curriculum would be fully integrated into GIS training schools and the Immigration Academy, ensuring that both new recruits and serving officers are equipped with the skills needed to engage communities effectively.

hief of Mission, IOM, Ms Fatou Diallo Ndiaye congratulated GIS and its partners on the milestone, noting that the CEP Strategy strengthens community-centred security and resilience, particularly in vulnerable border areas.

She observed that incorporating community perspectives into border governance reduces risks, addresses root causes of insecurity, and contributes to regional stability.

Presenting details of the CEP curriculum and training manual, ACP Kofi Asano explained that the programme was designed to foster trust, collaboration, and proactive civic engagement between communities and law enforcement agencies.

He said the approach ensures that communities understand their role in supporting security, while GIS officers uphold human rights and professional standards through a people-focused policing model.

According to ACP Asano, the curriculum merges entry-level and post-entry training into a unified framework, with specialised modules reserved for senior officers.

He noted that the programme comprises 15 modules covering areas such as community engagement, policing concepts, conflict resolution, gender equity, protection from sexual exploitation, transnational organised crime, referral mechanisms, project management, community safety planning, media and communication skills, and religious orientation.

He added that each module outlines clear learning objectives, duration, teaching methods, and continuous assessment tools to ensure measurable outcomes.

The accompanying training manual, he said, provides detailed instructional guidance while allowing flexibility to adapt content to participants’ experience levels and operational contexts.

The CEP Strategy is expected to enhance cooperation between GIS officers and communities, strengthen border security, and support safer, more orderly migration across Ghana’s borders.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith and Hawa Abubakar