To effectively safeguard the security of the country against external threats, the Government of Ghana has hinted of investing $2.5b in the country’s security and intelligence agencies within the next two years.
The investment is to ensure that the various security agencies are adequately resourced and fully equipped to effectively manage the country’s security.
“…Colleagues, between this year and within the next two years, we are hoping that we would have invested as much as $2.5b in the security and intelligence agencies in Ghana,” Minister for National Security, Mr Albert Kan Dapaah, said at a sensitisation workshop organised by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) in Accra yesterday.
The workshop, which took place at the Headquarters of GIS, was to educate the officers on the National Security Strategy (NSS), which was launched by President Akufo-Addo some few months ago, to enable them grasp the full understanding of the strategy and its proper implementation.
Mr Kwame Asuah Takyi,Comptroller General, GIS addressing the audience
Also in attendance were the Deputy Minister for Interior, Naana Eyiah, Comptroller General, GIS, Mr Kwame Asuah Takyi and other officers from both GIS and National Security.
Mr Kan Dapaah dwelt on the enormous investment the government intends to make when he spoke about the challenges he witnessed some immigration officers go through, when he paid a visit to some border posts in parts of the country.
According to the Minister, these officers were unable to effectively discharge their duties, which include the manning of Ghana’s approved borders and unapproved routes because they lacked some equipment, logistics and funds.
“Let me emphasise that challenges such as underfunding that conspires against the Ghana Immigration Service in effectively executing its mandate are well-known. A year ago, during my tour of some various border posts along Ghana’s Northern frontier, I fully appreciated the frustration of some immigration officers owing from a lack of equipment and logistics that render them incapable of manning approved and known unapproved routes,” he said.
The Minister said it is imperative that the Service is resourced because the survival of Ghana in the wake of terrorist infiltration, cross-border crimes and movement of goods and people along unapproved routes would largely be dependent on the extent to which officers of the Ghana Immigration Service carry out their responsibilities.
On her part, the Deputy Minister of Interior, Naana Eyiah, who read a speech on behalf of the Minister, Mr Ambrose Derry, indicated that government was determined to invest more in security in order to keep the country safe from criminals and rebels.
He said some of these efforts are evident in the recruitment of more officers, infrastructural development, as well as human development activities being undertaken by the NPP-led administration.
Speaking specifically on the sensitisation program, the Deputy Minister said security is a shared responsibility and that it was very important that the officers were being made to understand the NSS.
To her, the development would go a long way to enable them also share with responsible citizens who will help in curbing crime in their communities.
“The dynamics of providing security has changed from an era where the men in uniform where charged with the responsibility of safeguarding the security of the State.Today security has become a shared responsibility with the citizenry effectively collaborating with the security agencies.It is only when the citizens are enlightened about the contents of the strategy that they can effectively play their roles in ensuring that the objects of the National Security Strategy are achieved,” she said.
The Comptroller General of GIS, Mr Kwame Asuah Takyi, who also addressed the gathering indicated that Ghana had become a home for many West Africans and that there was the need to curb all forms of security issues that threaten the country and make it safe for its citizens and neighbors.
He called on the government to continuously support the Service to carry out the purpose for which it was established while he indicated to his colleague officers to proffer ideas and suggestions that would augment existing security measures.
Source: Mynewsghana
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