The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has held a special pull-out ceremony and guard of honour in celebration of the outgoing Deputy Comptroller-General (DCG), Laud Kwasi Ofori Affrifah.

The ceremony, which took place last Monday, attracted people from all walks of life, including the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, security heads, family and friends and security analysts.

It also provided the platform for his old schoolmates at Adisadel College to reunite.

Ceremony

The colourful ceremony saw officers of the GIS in exciting display in his honour

There were also presentations of gifts from both the service and other sister security services.

A certificate of discharge was also presented to him on behalf of GIS by the Deputy Interior Minister, for his honourable service and duty to Ghana.

No regrets

In his address, the retired Deputy Comptroller-General showed appreciation to his predecessors and those who have helped create a pathway for him in the security service.

"The training, mentorship and the difficult training have helped shape and structure both the service and my career path," he said.

He recounted some of the difficult challenges he faced and his contribution towards improving cross border partnership with countries worldwide.

The celebrant urged and admonished young officers to "respect the uniform" and brace up for the changing times in the service.

"I leave with no regret. I have contributed my quota to the service. I thank everyone, especially my wife, Adwoa, and children, for the immense contribution in developing my chosen path," he said.

Career

Mr Ofori Affrifah has been central to the evolution of Ghana's immigration management.

His life was dedicated to borders, law, Intelligence, security, and institutional transformation for over 33 years.

His career is inseparably linked to the modernisation and professional posture of GIS as a strategic institution in the national security architecture of Ghana.

Also a lawyer, migration management expert, security and intelligence strategist, and a trainer, the celebrant has many of the operational standards, institutional systems, structures, policies, and doctrines that guide the GIS today, bearing his professional and intellectual imprints.

He served with distinction across some of the service's most sensitive and strategic commands.

Among some of the positions held were Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Command Post and Operations; Head of Operations; Head, Enforcement and Intelligence Bureau; Head of Training; Regional Commander, Upper West Region; Head, Operations Unit; Head, Gateway Project Secretariat; Secretary to three Directors of Immigration.

Until his retirement, he also served as Shift Supervisor, Kotoka International Airport.

In every role, he built systems, structures, and human capital that outlived his tenure.

He has served on or chaired many administrative committees, including the Ghana Immigration Service Management Committee, the Appointments and Promotions Advisory Committee, the Central Disciplinary Committee and the Study Leave Committee.

Mr Ofori Affrifah served on the GIS Legal Committee, which drafted and supported the passage of the Immigration Service Act, 2016 (Act 908) and its regulations, which are the current establishment legislation of the service.

He also co-chaired the Law Implementation Committee of the service.