Four weather sheds funded by the German Government have been commissioned for officers of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), to improve their working conditions and enhance border management operations.
The sheds, constructed at Aflao Pillar Four, Six, Seven, and Ten under the Aflao Sector Command, are expected to provide shelter for immigration officers who regulate the movement of people along communities bordering Ghana and neighbouring Togo.
Delivering her message on behalf of the Comptroller-General of the Ghana Immigration Service at a brief ceremony held at Gakli in Aflao, Madam Evelyn Lorlornyo Lotsu, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Immigration in charge of Finance and Administration, described the gesture as a practical intervention that would significantly improve the working conditions, welfare, and operational efficiency of officers stationed along the route.
Madam Lotsu noted that the Aflao Border remained one of the most important entry points into Ghana, facilitating the movement of thousands of travelers daily and supporting cross-border trade between Ghana and the Republic of Togo.
However, officers deployed at several operational points along the frontier had for many years carried out their duties under harsh weather conditions, often working for long hours under the scorching sun and heavy rains with limited shelter, she said.
Madam Lotsu said the situation posed several challenges for the personnel, especially female officers in maintaining a gender responsive working environment.
She said the newly constructed sheds would improve the welfare, morale, and effectiveness of officers and enable them to perform their duties more efficiently.
Madam Lotsu revealed that the intervention originated from a conversation between the then Aflao Sector Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Immigration Frederick Baah Duodu (Rtd), and officials of the German Embassy, who were passing through Aflao on an official duty to Togo.
During the interaction, the welfare challenges facing the officers at the border were discussed, which later led to the support for the construction of the weather sheds.
She noted that the project further strengthened the longstanding partnership between Germany and the Service, explaining that Germany had over the years supported the GIS through training programmes, logistical assistance, and technical cooperation.
Such initiatives had helped enhance the professional capacity of immigration officers and strengthened Ghana’s border management systems in line with international standards, Madam Lotsu said.
She also expressed appreciation to Torgbuiga Adzonugaga Amenya Fiti V, the Paramount Chief and President of the Aflao Traditional Council, and the traditional authorities of Aflao for their continuous cooperation and for making land available for the construction of the facilities.
Madam Lotsu assured the German Government and other partners that the sheds would be properly maintained and utilised for the purpose for which they were provided, noting that the infrastructure would contribute to improved border surveillance and more efficient immigration operations.
She expressed optimism that cooperation between Ghana and Germany in border security, institutional development, and capacity building would continue to grow stronger in the years ahead.
The ceremony was attended by Frederick Landshoft, the German Ambassador to Ghana; Captain George Kofi Nfodjoh (Rtd), the Ghana’s High Commissioner to the Republic of Togo; Mr Nicholas Kwabla Worclachie, the Municipal Chief Executive of Ketu South; traditional authorities, security officials, and community members.
GNA
