According to the Service, this is part of efforts towards ridding the system of forged health documents by some immigrants.

[contextly_sidebar id=”UELn5qP4ZUsMPkkYHSWhJdICSK7VRjJ8″]Speaking to Citi News after the Service commissioned the Hospital, its Public Relations Officer, Supt. Michael Amoako-Atta, said this would be paramount to national security.

“Previously, they [immigrants] were free to conduct medical examinations in any hospital that they wanted. But again, doing background checks on some of the hospitals that were issuing the supposed medical certificates, you call a number on the certificates and it will end up with someone in Makola.”

“We thought for us, public health and safety was paramount… they are going to work in industries and factories where other people are, so the outbreak of an epidemic is going to be a threat to security. So that is why that immediate change had to come and we commissioned the hospital.”

In terms of threats like terrorism, Supt. Amoako-Atta said the Service was also up to the task, and prepared for any unforeseen attacks.

Though the Service is slightly under-resourced, it can handle any potential terror attacks in the country, he said.

“We may not have all the logistics that we need, but the little that we have and by our training and conduct, we have been able to maintain security at the country’s borders over the years. Just a year ago when Cote D’lvoire was in crisis, we were able to maintain sanity at the borders that there was not much spillover,” he said.

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By: Michael Ogbodu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The vehicles, which included 10 Toyota Hilux Pick-Ups, 25 Honda four-wheel All-Terrain-Vehicles (ATV) and 20 Honda motorcycles, were made available by the Government of Ghana as part of efforts to equip the Service with the necessary logistics to help it combat cross-border crimes and irregular migration.

The provision of these vehicles fits into the Service’s vision of restructuring, revamping and retooling its Border Patrol Unit to effectively patrol the borders of the country and ensure their security.

Receiving the keys to the vehicles and motorcycles, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Immigration in-charge of Operations and Command Post (DCG/OPs & CP), Mr. Laud Affrifah, indicated that they would be distributed to the various border posts of the Service to intensify surveillance.

He said that the vehicles and motorcycles would significantly contribute to the fight against illegal entries and cross-border crimes.

He reminded border patrol personnel who would be using the vehicles to take good care of them and ensure their regular servicing.

“Already, Management of the Service has directed all Commands to strengthen security checks at the borders and ensure due diligence,” he noted.

He added that “if we are able to effectively deter and prevent miscreants and other illegitimate migrants from entering the country, the nation’s crime issues would be more than half resolved.”

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The CGI was accompanied by the Deputy Comptroller-General in-charge of Finance and Administration (DCG/F & A), Mrs. Judith Dzokoto-Lomoh, and Deputy Comptroller-General in-charge of Command Post and Operations (DCG/CP & OPS), Mr. Laud Affrifah.

The inspection afforded the CGI and his entourage the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the project and ensure that immigration workstations designed for monitoring and regulation of the entry and exit of travelers at the terminal when completed, were standard and met desired expectations.

He was met on arrival at the Airport by the KIA Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Immigration (DCI) Eric Afari, and some management members of the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL).

The CGI and his entourage were briefed on the progress of work and conducted round the project by the Supervising Architect of the project, Mr. Fernando Prieto. They also went through a simulation on the arrival processes.

Some areas of the project visited included the arrival and departure halls, immigration booths and offices, passenger detention cells, boarding gates, business lounges and operation center.

The project when completed is expected to cater for five million passengers in a year and process 1,250 passengers per hour.

It would also have six boarding bridges, three business lounges, and a large retail area among others.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The visit was to learn at firsthand, the structure, operations and training regime of the GIS and to tap into the Service’s wealth of experience to reposition the KDIS.

It is expected that a Kenya Migration Institute would be created as a fall out of the visit.

The visit took the officers of the KDIS to the Immigration Service Academy and Training School (ISATS) in Assin Foso, Aflao Sector Command and to the GIS Headquarters where they were taken through operations and command structure of the service.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI), Mr. Kwame Asuah Takyi expressed excitement for hosting the Kenyan delegation and assured them of the Service’s readiness to give them the necessary support and guidance in their quest of establishing a Kenya Migration Institute.

He, however, noted that the success of their study tour and the implementation of standards and best practices in managing migration in their country largely hinged on the will of the Kenyan government and the institution itself.

“Ghana Immigration Service has come a long way. It has taken both the political and institutional will and commitment of the institution and several governments to effect the desired changes” he indicated.

He said the visit should be the beginning of effective collaborative efforts at strengthening migration management within the African Region.

The Kenyan delegation was led by Deputy Director of KDIS, Mr. Joseph Munywoki.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The Unit, called the Immigration Professional Standards and Ethics Unit (IPSEU) is made of 42 officers of the Service, drawn from both Senior and Junior ranks.

In his keynote address at the inauguration ceremony, the Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI), Kwame Asuah Takyi disclosed that the increase in staff strength and the need to maintain paramilitary standards necessitated the establishment of IPSEU.

He explained that IPSEU was mandated to monitor, enforce and improve the standards of professionalism among its personnel in the discharge of their duties to the country especially its clients.

“The maintenance or exhibition of high standards by Officers is very important in discharging the mandate and attainment of the vision of the GIS,” he said.

The Comptroller General admonished all officers of the Service to eschew all forms of unprofessionalism and unlawful behaviors that would warrant them been subjected to the Disciplinary Code of the Service, adding that, management of the Service would ensure that those who fell foul of the Service Disciplinary Code would be dealt with in accordance with its regulations.

He pointed out that “a society that does not allow its rules and regulations to work cannot stand the test of time.”

He called on Officers to place integrity of the profession, their allegiance to the State and the interest of clients above their personal interest.

“Integrity, competence and respect should be the hallmark of Officers of the Service,” he added.

He pledged his support to the success of IPSEU and entreated its personnel to ensure Officers of the Service, at all times, act professionally so as not to tarnish the hard-won reputation of the Service.

“We are fully behind the setting up of the Unit and will do whatever it takes for it to succeed,” he stressed.

Mr. Kwame Asuah Takyi implored personnel of the Unit to display a high sense of discipline that would give credence to their selection as pioneers of IPSEU, adding that, they were expected to live above reproach.

In his remarks, the Commanding Officer of the Military Police Unit of the Ghana Armed Forces, Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col.) Francis Kojo Bannerman asked personnel of IPSEU to be custodians of discipline in the GIS and exhibit a high sense of accountability and loyalty.

He entreated them to ‘walk the talk’ and put to use, what they had learnt.

The establishment of the Professional Standards and Ethics Unit is in fulfillment of provisions contained in the Immigration Service Act of 2016, ACT 908 and its Regulations.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Speaking to the media ahead of the closed-door meeting, Mr. Takyi said the engagement was necessary because of their rich experiences over the years.

Commending the past directors of the Service, he said, “I must indicate that one of the greatest assets of our institution is the institutional memory which you present and it’s critical to the positive transformation of this service. Your views on the way forward for our humble institution will be very much welcome.”

As part of the service’s operational activities in the expansion of its scope, departments like the Immigration Professional Standards and Ethics Unit (IPSEU), the International Relations Unit, the Chaplaincy and the Protocol and events Management Unit have been created.

Past directors and deputies who were part of the closed-door meeting included former Comptroller General of the Ghana Immigration Service Nana Owusu Nisah, first Comptroller General of GIS, Felix Sarpong, former Deputy Director of Operations and former Ghana Ambassador to Libya, Hodari Okae.

About GIS Clinic

Kwame Asuah Takyi mentioned that, a clinic had been established on the premises GIS headquarters to cater for the needs of the serving and retired officers.

“As some of you are aware, we also have established a clinic, which is located at the ground floor of Block B at the Headquarters. This is expected to cater for the needs of serving and retired officers. The facility is also open to our clients for medical examination.”

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By: Anass S. Seidu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Frank Jerry Osei, who plies his trade in Kumasi is said to have defrauded Eva Gyansah to the tune of GH¢3,000 under the pretence of securing a position for her daughter in the Ghana Immigration Service.

He was sentenced by the Bekwai Circuit Court after he pleaded guilty to the charges of defrauding by false pretense and impersonation.

Facts

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Francis Osei Boateng, said the victim is a trader who sells roasted pork at Trede Junction near Bekwai in the Ashanti Region, while the accused person claims to be a businessman, resident at Bekwai.

In May 2017, the complainant together with her daughter who assists her in selling were going about their normal duties when Osei approached them and enquired from her daughter what she did for a living.

Ms Gyansah told Osei that her daughter had completed Senior High School (SHS) and was assisting her with the business to raise money to further her education.

Osei then introduced himself as the District Police Commander of Bekwai, and that as the head of the district, he had slots to enlist four persons into the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), and would give one slot to the complainant’s daughter.

He (Osei) later took the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) result slip, birth certificate and passport pictures of the complainant’s daughter, as well as GH¢3,000, which he termed as protocol processing fee.

He also made Gyansah’s daughter undergo a medical screening and gave her a list of items to be bought for training, as well as a date on which she was expected to report for training.

According to Mr Boateng, Ms Gyansah said after the time given them by Osei had elapsed and they had not heard from him, she attempted to reach him on his phone, but it was switched off and his whereabouts were unknown.

After several attempts to reach him were unsuccessful, she reported to the district police headquarters to enquire about the progress of her daughter’s enlistment into the GIS, only to be told that Osei was not the District Commander, neither was he a police officer.

Arrest

She then reported the matter to the police for investigation, after which Osei was apprehended months later.

During the interrogation, Osei admitted to the offences and confessed in the presence of independent witnesses.

He further stated in his caution statement that he had not attended any police training school whatsoever.

After investigations, he was charged and put before the court, presided over by Justice Frederick Arnold Wekem Kwesi Nawurah, who found him guilty on his own plea.

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Source: Graphic.com.gh

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It said some fraudsters had taken advantage of the ongoing national recruitment exercise of the Service, to lure some Ghanaians to pay and be recruited through a ‘protocol system’.

It has thus the public against taking up such fake offers.

It said the scammers in some cases urged the unsuspecting persons to pay between GH¢ 3,000.00 and GH¢ 6,000.00 to be guaranteed a place in the Immigration Service as part of the third phase of the Service’s ongoing recruitment exercise.

“The attention of Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has been drawn to a recruitment scam where unscrupulous individuals pretending to represent the GIS are calling applicants concerning the ongoing 2017/2018 GIS Recruitment Exercise to have their names placed in fictitious ‘protocol lists’ at a fee.”

“These individuals introduce themselves as staff of GIS, indicating that they have applicants’ documents in front of them, and that, they did not make it into the final list of those to be enlisted. In some cases, applicants are asked to pay an amount to undergo the third phase of the Recruitment Exercise – medical screening.”

After extending the fictitious offer of assisting them to gain enlisted into the Service, these individuals ask for payment ranging between GH¢3,000.00 and GH¢6,000.00,” the Immigration Service said in a statement.

“We don’t call applicants on phone”

The Immigration Service noted that, it will never make calls to applicants, and does not ask for direct payment from them to enlist them.

“All applicants and the general public should be aware that the GIS will not place a call to any applicant and will never ask applicants for any direct payment to gain enlisted into the GIS. Prospective applicants are therefore advised not to send money to any individual.

Moreover, the 2017/2018 GIS Recruitment Exercise is still under its second phase and qualified applicants who successfully pass the Aptitude Test will be shortlisted and contacted via Short Message Services (SMS) and emails as well as names posted on the GIS website: www.joingis.com,” it said.

‘Recruitment process transparent’

The Service insisted that, its recruitment process is transparent, hence no individual or group can claim to assist anyone to be recruited into the Immigration Service.

“It must be noted that no individual or group of persons can help anybody since the process is as transparent as possible….The GIS hereby wishes to admonish all applicants and the general public to ignore such calls and be weary of fraudsters who put up such calls in the name of the Ghana Immigration Service. Any applicant who pays money in relation to the ongoing 2017/2018 GIS Recruitment Exercise does so at his/her own risk,” it noted.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Immigration Service investigates ‘protocol list recruitment’ scam appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

They made the call when the two Security Chiefs paid a day’s working visit to the Aflao-Segbe borders in the Volta Region,and took turns to address personnel of both agencies.

The joint visit by the two forms part of strategies to strengthen the Integrated Border Management (IBM) initiative being adopted by the two agencies, and was also to afford them the opportunity to interact with the personnel.

In his opening remarks, the Commissioner of CD-GRA underscored the need for personnel of the two agencies to work together in the interest of the country.

He illustrated the bond of friendship that exists between the two security chiefs as an example worthy of emulation by the personnel.

Mr. Isaac Crenstil further emphasized the need for both agencies to share intelligence and work together, adding that, the days of needless rivalry between the two agencies should be a thing of the past.

He noted that the success of the IBM project was dependent on a well-coordinated border management approach. He, therefore, encouraged personnel to emulate the good working relations that existed between the Senior Officers of the two agencies.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kwame Asuah Takyi, admonished officers to eschew all forms of conflicts and perceived tension that existed between personnel of the two agencies at the border.

He noted that personnel should be mindful of such unnecessary perception, and that such perception could be a reality if not nipped in the bud.

“Perception can be a reality if care is not taken. Allow a sense of unity and purpose to prevail among of you and work in the national interest,” he said.

The Comptroller General intimated that, as a way to strengthen the bond of friendship among the two agencies, a joint end of year get-to-gather (WASSA) should be held among personnel of GIS and CD-GRA at the Aflao Sector Commands, adding that, the migrant band of the GIS will be in attendance to provide good music.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Following news that only 500 out of the 84,000 applicants were to be employed, some have criticized of intentionally making money off the country’s desperate jobless youth.

[contextly_sidebar id=”gnYf1U2V09bMhWWDqYosvFfT0Du55WSg”]The Immigration Service in a statement however dismissed these claims, saying the “sale of application forms is not new. This has been the practice in previous recruitment exercise since 2012.”

It also explained that unlike 2016 where applicants paid Ghc100, they paid Ghc50 this time round.

“The cost of this year’s application e-voucher was reduced from GHC 100.00 to GHC 50.00 as compared to the previous recruitment exercise in 2016 upon the directive of government to all security agencies under the Ministry of Interior,” the Service explained.

‘We won’t cash in on applicants’

The Service further clarified that, it has no intention of exploiting applicants as suggested by critics.

“It is not the intention of Management to cash in on the process especially as the misleading story on social media seems to portray. The process of the recruitment is not peculiar to the GIS, in fact that is the process used by all the Security and educational institutions.”

Per Citi News’ calculation, the Immigration Service made about GHS 4.2 million out of the sale of e-voucher cards.

Funds accrued from the sale of e-voucher cards, according to the Immigration Service, will be used to cater for the services of the GCB Bank Limited, the software developer and other administrative activities.

The other charges, as indicated by the Service, were for “the hiring of screening venues, examination halls, ambulances, contracting sanitation companies to clean up both the examination and screening centres, provision of food and water for the screening teams and applicants among others, across the all the 10 Regional screening centres.”

Applicants failed to obey instructions

Ghana Immigration Service received about 84,000 applications at the end of its 2017/2018 application process.

The number, which is seen as an exponential increase from previous exercises, has been explained to be as a result of the worsening unemployment situation in the country.

It later emerged that the Service will only recruit 500 out of the total number of applicants to fill the limited available positions.

The Service explained that though restrictions were given in a bid to regulate and limit the numbers, applicants who were not qualified still flouted the rules and purchased the vouchers.

“Inherent in the requirements and process were restrictions to regulate and limit the number of applicants, such as age, height and even the period for the sale of e-voucher was also limited. Yet we had applicants who did not meet the basic requirements but went ahead to purchase the vouchers.”

Despite these concerns , the Immigration Service assured that “every money collected is well accounted for and will be judiciously used for the intended purpose.

Read full statement below

GHANA IMMIGRATION SERVICE 2017/2018 RECRUITMENT EXERCISE

The Ghana Immigration Service, (GIS) has taken notice of news making the rounds in the media about monies generated from the sale of its recruitment e-vouchers for recruitment into the Service.

Management of the GIS wishes to respond as follows;

1. The Ministry of Finance late last year gave clearance to the GIS to recruit 500 eligible Ghanaians into the Service.

2. Management immediately set up a Committee to come out with modalities for the recruitment process.

3. Following from this an advert was subsequently placed in the National Dailies setting out the requirements for the recruitment.

4. The GCB Bank limited was contracted to be the sales point for the sale of e-vouchers across all their branches nationwide.

5. Sale of application forms is not new. This has been the practice in previous recruitment exercise since 2012.

6. The cost of this year’s application e-voucher was reduced from GH¢100.00 to GH¢50.00 as compared to the previous recruitment exercise in 2016 upon the directive of government to all Security Agencies under the Ministry of Interior.

7. Trybnet, a software developer was contracted to design an e-recruitment system that will help the Service conduct a very free, transparent and fair exercise.

8. To ensure integrity and fairness, the Business School of the University of Ghana was contracted to set questions for the aptitude test.
9. The desire of Management was to give each eligible Ghanaian an equal and fair chance of applying to join the GIS and in doing so, select the best among the pool of eligible applicants.

10. At the end of the sales, a total of 83,539 vouchers had been sold. Out of which a total of 47,477 applicants qualified.

11. It is instructive to note that the cost of the e-voucher was to cater for the services of the GCB Bank limited, the software developer and other administrative activities. The other charges were for the hiring of screening venues, examination Halls, ambulances, contracting sanitation companies to clean up both the examination and screening centers, provision of food and water for the screening teams and applicants among others, across all the 10 Regional screening centers.

12. It is not the intention of Management to cash in on the process especially as the misleading story on social media seems to portray. The process of the recruitment is not peculiar to the GIS, in fact that is the process used by all the Security and educational institutions.

13. Indeed, best Human Resource recruitment practices will allow for a large pool of prospective applicants in a recruitment drive such as ours to select the best in terms of education, experience, physique and other expertise that will be required.

14. Inherent in the requirements and process were restrictions to regulate and limit the number of applicants, such as age, height and even the period for the sale of e-voucher was also limited. Yet we had applicants who did not meet the basic requirements but went ahead to purchase the vouchers.

Management of the GIS therefore wishes to assure the general public that every money collected is well accounted for and will be judiciously used for the intended purpose.

SIGNED SUPT. MICHAEL AMOAKO-ATTA HEAD OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

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By:Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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