The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has raised serious concerns over increasing abuses of the ECOWAS free movement protocol, warning that irregular migration, child trafficking, cyber fraud, organized street begging, and other criminal networks are undermining Ghana’s internal security.
The caution was issued during high-level talks with a delegation from the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI), led by Dr. Abraham Abdulai, at the GIS Headquarters in Accra. The meeting formed part of WAMI’s study visit to assess challenges in implementing the ECOWAS protocol on free movement, trade, and the use of biometric identification.
Deputy Comptroller General of Immigration in charge of Command Post and Operations, Mr. Faisal Disu, stressed that “Ghana is currently attracting a lot of bad actors into the country,” adding that proceeds from organized begging networks could potentially be used to finance terrorism.
Discussions also revealed slow progress in rolling out the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card, with only Ghana, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire fully implementing the system. Currency disparities across the sub-region were flagged as another obstacle to seamless integration.
Dr. Abdulai noted that WAMI’s ongoing exercise will help develop strategies and benchmarks, including a centralized database of ECOWAS citizens, to strengthen border management.
Both institutions emphasized the urgent need for public advocacy and sensitization campaigns on regular migration and the dangers of irregular crossings. GIS announced plans to intensify border patrols to safeguard national security while ensuring that the principle of free movement supports, rather than undermines, Ghana’s peace and stability.
Recommendations from the meeting are expected to inform ECOWAS policy reforms aimed at protecting lives, securing borders, and advancing genuine regional integration.
Present at the meeting were senior GIS officials including DCOI Mrs. Maud Anima Quainoo (Head of Public Affairs), DCOI Mr. Justice Amevor (Head of Operations), DCOI Mr. Kwabena Somoah Amponsah (Head of International Relations), ACI Isaac Ghansah (Head of Operational Research and Planning), and C/Supt. Enyonam Dogbegah (Border Management Department).
Leave a Reply