An eleven-member Governing Council of the Ghana Immigration Service has been inaugurated in Accra.

The council is chaired by Reverend Stephen Wengam, the General Superintendent of Assemblies of God,Ghana. He was appointed by President John Dramani  Mahama.

Other members of the council were drawn from institutions such as the Ministry for the Interior, the Attorney General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the Ghana Immigration Service both retired and serving senior officers. The council members also include President’s nominees and the acting Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mr Samuel Basintale Amadu.

Responsibility

The council is entrusted with the responsibility of providing policy guidance, ensuring accountability, mobilising resources, and supporting the Service in the implementation of its Strategic Plan.

The council is also tasked with the responsibility of liaising with key stakeholders both nationally and internationally, strengthening the legal and institutional frameworks governing migration, and ensuring that the Ghana Immigration Service continues to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, transparency, and service excellence.

Stragetic plan

Addressing the council members after administering the official oaths, the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, stated that in line with its constitutional mandate and operational imperatives, the Ghana Immigration Service has adopted a Strategic Plan.

The plan focuses on strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing border security, promoting legal and orderly migration, and improving service delivery. This plan he further explained, provides a comprehensive roadmap to transform the Service into a modern, intelligence-led, and technology-driven institution capable of addressing emerging migration and security challenges.

He said the service continues to play a vital role in ensuring the security and development of the country. As the principal state institution responsible for the regulation and monitoring of the entry, residence, employment, and exit of foreigners in Ghana, the Service, he added, also performs an indispensable role in border management and national security.

“The inauguration of the Governing Council comes at a time when the dynamics of global migration, transnational organised crime, and regional integration call for agile governance, strategic oversight, and institutional innovation. The Council is, therefore, not just an administrative necessity but a strategic body mandated to ensure that the vision, mission, and strategic objectives of the Service are realised” the Minister observed.

Council members

Mr Mohammed-Mubarak, who is also the Member of Parliament for Asawase, stated that the appointment of the council members is a testament to the confidence the Government of Ghana reposes in both their individual and collective expertise, integrity, and leadership

“As you take up this national assignment, you are entrusted with the responsibility of providing policy guidance, ensuring accountability, mobilising resources, and supporting the Service in the implementation of its Strategic Plan” he stressed.

He urged the council members to work closely with the Comptroller-General and his management team, providing not only oversight but also strategic direction to position the Ghana Immigration Service as a responsive and proactive institution that reflects the aspirations of the nation and the realities of a changing world.

“Government remains committed to supporting the Service with the resources and policy backing needed to achieve its mandate. We recognise that the security and socio-economic development of Ghana is closely linked to how well we manage migration and secure our borders” Mr Mohammed-Mubarak further assured.

Acceptance speech

The Chairman of the Governing Council, Rev. Wengam in his acceptance speech, thanked the President for the confidence reposed in him and acknowledged his visionary leadership to transform the Immigration sector to be able to deliver on its mandate effectively.

"Fankly our human capacities or luminous backgrounds are not enough to shoulder this responsibility. For this reason, we will rely on Divine grace as well as the indispensable support of our sector Minister, the Ministry and collaboration from management of the Ghana Immigration Service to do our very best to navigate this assignment well in the interest of the State and to the Glory of God" he stated.

Appreciation

Rev. Wengam expresed deep appreciation to the previous Governing Council and Comptroller-General for serving to the best of their ability which ignites pride in the Ghana Immigration Service today.

“The recent crackdown on undocumented immigrants to rid our streets of the ugly spectacle of street begging particularly strikes cords of appreciation. The move by President Mahama and the visionary sector Minister to ensure that the operations of the service is improved is great news” he added.

He reminded his colleagues that they are also enjoined by the vision of the President, the sector Minister and the Ghana Immigration Service to deliver excellence in migration management for national development.

“As a man of God I have unshakeable belief in miracles at the same time I am realistic enough to admit that excellence in this context will not be a product of miraculous happenings but a fruit of conscious efforts and relentless determination to deliver on the mandate of the service” he acknowledged.

Rev. Wengam therefore called for unity and support from all stakeholders to help shape the Immigration service in Ghana which will be a reference point and standard measure for the whole of Africa and the rest of the World.