GIS Governing Council Launches Project SECOBOR to Strengthen Border Security

The Chairman of the Governing Council of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Rev Stephen Wengam, has launched Project SECOBOR, a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing Ghana’s border security through strengthened public and private sector partnerships.

Project SECOBOR—an acronym for Secure Our Borders—is a resource-mobilisation framework designed to boost the operational capacity of the GIS in fulfilling its constitutional mandate of protecting the country’s borders.

The initiative was unveiled on Monday in Accra during a courtesy call by members of the Governing Council on the Minister for the Interior, Mr Muntaka Mohamed Mubarak.

Speaking at the meeting, Rev Wengam noted that Project SECOBOR would significantly improve border management, enhance national security, and help curb revenue leakages associated with weak border control systems.

He stressed that inadequate resourcing of the Ghana Immigration Service poses a direct threat to national peace and security.

Rev Wengam appealed to stakeholders in both the public and private sectors to support the retooling of the Service, describing collaboration as critical to safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity.

The Minister for the Interior on the other hand, praised the Governing Council for its proactive and visionary leadership.

Mr Muntaka assured the Council of his unwavering support and urged officers of the Ghana Immigration Service to consistently prioritise national interest in the discharge of their duties.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to resetting, retooling, and reforming the Ghana Immigration Service in line with the President’s broader security agenda.

The Minister noted that the Council’s initiatives aligns with government priorities, including plans to construct seven regional offices as part of the retooling programme for security services.

Highlighting the critical role immigration officers play as the first point of contact at the nation’s borders, the minister revealed that Ghana has 48 approved entry routes and more than 200 unapproved ones.

He emphasised the President’s strong interest in establishing a robust monitoring system across all borders to address security gaps.

Judith Twumwaa, ISD