The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), yesterday, received another set of Personal Protective Equipment to contain the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The items, consisting boxes of hand gloves, nose and facemasks, disinfectants and many more, were donated to the GIS through a collaborative effort between the European Union (EU), International Organisation on Migration (IOM), and Free Movement of Persons & Migration (FMM), under the European Union-Economic Community of West African States (EU-ECOWAS) Assistance project.
The purpose of the project is to provide support to border management within the West Africa region.
Addressing the dignitaries who gathered at the GIS Headquarters to witness the ceremony, Mr Kwame Asuah-Takyi, Comptroller of GIS, indicated that Covid-19, aside the major economic implications it has had on the country, has also changed the country’s border management.
He indicated that though the GIS is striving in these trying times to live up to its mandate of regulating and monitoring of entry and exit of all travelers, such a mandate has not been easy, since its officers are also at risk of contracting the disease in the course of discharging their duty.
It’s even challenging in these moments when restrictions on migration and movement in and out of the country have been eased. It is, therefore, critical that extra care and resources are committed to ensuring that the men and women at the borders are safe, Mr Asuah-Takyi said.
“So this donation has really come at the right time. It has come at the time when the GIS needs it most. It will help us to regulate the movement of people very well.”
He assured the sponsors that the items would be used judiciously to facilitate the smooth implementation of Covid-19 response activities.
From the EU, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to Ghana, H.E. Ambassador Pieter S. Van Gelder, observed that there had been an unprecedented halt to the mobility of people due to the pandemic. He said the situation had caused socio-economic a melt-down throughout the world, and West Africa was not left out. He said this even led to increases in food prices.
“This is clear that free movement of persons within the ECOWAS zone is crucial for regional economic integration, and, therefore, the development of West Africa, and that’s the reason we are donating these items to support the government’s effort.”
He said the items are expected to assist the beneficiary countries to conduct safe and healthy movements, as their borders are being opened to the public in order to promote economic growth in the region.
They are also expected to reduce the risk of infection and spread of the virus within the ECOWAS region, as well as increase the capacity of immigration and border officials and support with the provision of essential services more effectively and efficiently.
Ambassador Gelder indicated that a whopping sum of £200,000 had been put aside to support five ECOWAS member countries, namely Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Niger and Benin, to support them through the provision of PPE for their personnel operating at the most engaged points of entry.
Madam Abibatou Wane-Fall, IOM Chief of Mission for Ghana, Benin and Togo, also indicated that migration can increase the cases of the Covid-19, hence, the need to adopt swift measures to minimise the cases of infection.
She acknowledged the Government of Ghana’s effort in fighting the disease, but said there was the need to strengthen the capacity to contain the disease, hence, the support being rendered by her outfit.
Mr Tei Konzi, Commissioner of FMM, also opined that the GIS was one the crucial institutions at the forefront of the fight against the Covid-19, so there is the need to support them with all available resources.
The post EU, others donate PPE to GIS appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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