GIS Commissioner pays visit to Upper West
The Director of the Ghana immigration
Service (GIS), Commissioner of Police (COP) Dr Peter A. Wiredu, has paid a two-day familiarisation visit to the Upper West Region.
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There are two major border posts in the region, one located at Hamile in the Lambussie/Karni District and the other at Tumu in the Sissala-East District.
Dr Wiredu commended the Lambussie/Karni District Assembly for constructing a new building for the GIS at Hamile, to replace the old one at the border post which was in a deplorable state.
He also expressed gratitude to the Lambussie/Karni District Chief Executive, Mr Bom Kofi Diyakah, for his foresight and for making it possible for the staff of the GIS to work hand in hand with other border officials.
Relocation of border post
At Tumu, the director commended the Sissala-East and West District assemblies for their effort to relocate the GIS office from its present location at Tumu to the border town of Kupulima in the Sissala West District, where officials of the Republic of Burkina Faso are also located.
Presently, the border post of GIS is located at Tumu in the Sissala-East District, 18 kilometres away from the frontier. The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has already relocated to the new site.
Low staff strength and inadequate logistics
Due to the expanse of the 515-kilometre stretch of borderline in the Upper West Region, the GIS is over-stretched and logistically constrained, especially against the backdrop of the influx of Fulani herdsmen and their cattle as well as smugglers who use the numerous unapproved routes.
Some of the border posts such as Lawra and Tumu, for instance, have no means of transportation and modern gadgets to enhance their monitoring and patrol operations.
Dr Wiredu, who visited other border posts, later interacted with the men and officers at Wa, where he promised to provide them with the necessary logistical support and means of transport to enhance their work.
He was conducted round the various borders by officials of the GIS and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).