Mahama petitioned to halt procurement of €18m E-Immigration system

Stakeholders have appealed to the President to halt plans by some government officials to procure an €18 million e-Immigration System to replace a similar one which is effective and efficient.

The stakeholders noted that the decision to spend such a colossal sum on the new equipment is only a waste of scarce resources which could be channelled into other productive uses.

They are more worried that at a time when government is cash-strapped, such an amount would be wasted on a substitute equipment to replace an existing one which was donated and is being maintained free of charge by the American government.

The stakeholders say the decision is not prudent as the €18 million can be used to resolve other challenges facing the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS).

With 42 approved borders – comprising 36 minor borders, two seaports, four major borders, including one airport – experts say the country needs to construct a considerable length of fence fitted with CCTV cameras and other devices to enhance border management systems, provide accommodation for staff, as well as equip the service with the needed logistics.

The stakeholders told The Finder that following the September 11, 2001 terrorist bombing, the USA in 2002 introduced the Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System (PISCES) to the Ghana Immigration Service.

PISCES is a sophisticated border management tool and its database system is largely based on biometric supported by the U.S. Department of State Terrorist Interdiction Programme.

The PISCES is used for countries in improving their watch-listing capabilities by providing a mainframe computer system to facilitate immigration processing in half a dozen countries. PISCES workstations installed in Ghana are linked by wide area network to the Immigration, Police CID and Interpol.

According to the stakeholders, the sophisticated border management mainframe computer system was deployed at the Aflao, Elubo and Paga border posts, as well as the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

The stakeholders told The Finder that any time the system faces challenges, officials from US come down to replace the broken down systems at the four main entry points and repair the broken down ones, which are later deployed to minor entry points.

Some of the broken down equipment are dismantled and parts, such as computers, that are in good shape are used by the Ghana Immigration Service in their offices.

The US also set up a training centre which has been upgraded to full biometric status, where over 150 officers have been trained.

The stakeholders explained that the US government provides all these services and infrastructure for free and, therefore, questions are being asked why government wants to scrap this project and spend €18 million to implement a similar programme called e-Immigration System.

According to the stakeholders, additional 18 months of Managed Services to assist the personnel of the Service manage the infrastructure would be put in place before handing over totally to personnel of the Service.

The stakeholders explained that, after the 18 months, in case of any challenge, Ghana will have to contract experts at huge fees to carry out any repairs and rehabilitation.

The stakeholders want government to keep the PISCES and use the €18 million to address other key challenges facing the service.