The Comptroller-General of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Mr. Samuel Basintale Amadu, has appealed to communities and stakeholders across the country to support the security agencies in their efforts to preserve the peace and stability Ghana continues to enjoy, particularly against the backdrop of prevailing security challenges in the sub-region.
The appeal was made during his visit to Hamile following the recent explosion that claimed the lives of an Immigration officer and two civilians, leaving another officer injured.
As part of the visit, the CGI held a stakeholder engagement with traditional authorities, opinion leaders, youth leaders, members of the development committee and other community representatives.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Amadu described the incident as unfortunate and regrettable, emphasising the need for all stakeholders to draw lessons from the occurrence and work collectively in the interest of peace, unity and national security.
The traditional and community leaders, in response, assured the CGI of their commitment to collaborating with the security agencies to prevent a recurrence of the incident. They, however, appealed for the lifting of the curfew and the reopening of the border to vehicular traffic to facilitate economic activities and restore normalcy to the community.
On the curfew, Mr. Amadu acknowledged that its imposition was necessary under the prevailing circumstances to maintain law and order. He expressed optimism that the restriction could be reviewed and eventually lifted if the community continued to demonstrate its commitment to peace and refrained from acts of violence against security personnel.
The CGI further urged the various groups within the community to set aside their differences, embrace reconciliation and foster harmonious relationships in the collective pursuit of lasting peace, internal security and development. He reiterated that the security agencies were partners in national security and development and called on the community to work closely with them in that regard.
As part of the visit, the Comptroller-General inspected the scene of the incident, which has been cordoned off and remains under investigation. He also led a delegation to commiserate with the bereaved families and conveyed his condolences to them.
The CGI subsequently held a durbar with officers at the Hamile Sector Command, where he encouraged Immigration officers and other security personnel to remain professional, disciplined and exercise the utmost decorum in the discharge of their duties, notwithstanding the challenges they encounter. He commended them for their dedication, resilience and commitment to duty.
The Comptroller-General also engaged members of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and the Border Security Council, commending them for their commitment and collaborative efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.
The visit formed part of Mr. Amadu’s broader efforts to engage key stakeholders, assess the security situation on the ground and strengthen collaboration between the security agencies and the communities they serve.
