The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has strongly denied accusations on social media that the newly installed electronic gates (e-gates) at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) cost the country $240 million.

In a press statement issued on Thursday, December 19, 2024, the GIS stated that the actual cost of the e-gates is $1.7 million.

Clarification regarding costs

"The e-Gate system alone (comprising 15 units of e-gates with accessories), which forms part of the border management system being installed at KIA, costs $1.7 million (i.e., $1,760,479.80)," according to the Geographic Information System.

The letter went on to say that the $240 million number represents the total lifecycle cost of the Immigration 360 system, a new integrated border management system being implemented at 48 entrance sites across the country.

According to the GIS, the $240 million includes 10 years of periodic upgrades, maintenance, licensing, and fees to ensure the system's efficiency. "After accounting for VAT and other taxes, the total comes to $274 million, which includes maintenance and hands-on support services over a ten-year period to guarantee the system is operational around-the-clock," according to a release.

Details about the Immigration 360 system

The Immigration 360 system seeks to automate passenger processing and data management at all authorized entrance and exit points into Ghana. It is intended to address issues of sovereignty, interoperability, and gaps in existing systems.

The GIS also emphasized the system's capacity to interact with local databases such as the National Identification System (NIS) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), as well as international systems like INTERPOL's Global Stop/Watch List and the International Civil Aviation Organization's Public Key Directory.

"This integrated approach will enhance travel, trade, and security," the statement said.

Pre-funded implementation

The GIS disclosed that Margins ID Systems Application Ltd, a local Ghanaian company, is pre-financing the $94.6 million implementation cost of phase one of the Immigration 360 system. Repayments will come from the revenue earned by the system's functioning.

Response to Minority Allegations

The GIS's reaction comes in the wake of claims made by the Minority in Parliament that the government agreed to a $147 million agreement for KIA's e-gates.

Governs Agbodza, the Minority Chief Whip, called the agreement a "blatant case of create, loot, and share," asking why an e-gate system would cost nearly as much as the airport's $250 million construction.

The Minority has demanded a halt to the project and a review of its financial implications, raising broader concerns about transparency in public procurement.

The GIS assured the public of its commitment to prudent resource management, emphasizing that the implementation of Immigration 360 is part of a broader strategy to modernize Ghana’s border management processes and improve efficiency at all entry points.

Source : Graphic.com.gh