It was joy and excitement when the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia on Monday announced the increment of the Internally Generated Fund,(IGF) retention of the Ghana Immigration Service from 13% to 30% with immediate effect, MyNewsGh.com reports.

This comes in the wake of the enormous infrastructural and operational challenges the service is faced with.

According to him, his government fully appreciates the immense contribution of the Ghana Immigration Service and the role it plays towards national development, in the midst of the challenging logistical constraints.

“It is reassuring to know that the service has mapped out a clear strategic direction towards the achievement of its aspirations in line with our national development objectives” he stated.

Dr. Bawumia observed that the development of the five-year strategic plan of 2018 to 2022 for the GIS is a commendable step and entreated the management of the service to sustain the enthusiasm and demonstrate tenacity of purpose in its implementation.

He made this announcement on behalf of the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the graduation parade of GIS cadet intake 11 at Assin Foso Immigration Academy and training school where thousands of people joined to witness the colourful occasion.

Dr. Bawumia who graduated 300 cadet officers, charged them to eschew all forms of corrupt practices in the performance of their duties and urged them to be fully committed to the course of the country and exhibit high levels of integrity.

The Vice President stated emphatically that government is determined to rid the country of all types of crimes by resourcing all the security services to enable them enforce the law and hinted that government has procured 150 high performance vehicles to support the operations of the GIS.

While lauding the service for its progress in arrests of some foreigners who are counterfeiting Ghana’s currency and others involved in cybercrime, he also used the graduation ceremony to commission a 221-capacity hostel facility as well as 300-capacity lecture hall for the Immigration academy.