Regional Commanders of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) have been urged to promote professionalism, fairness, discipline and teamwork within their respective commands to strengthen the service’s effectiveness and Ghana’s security architecture.

The Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, made the call at the maiden GIS Regional Commanders Conference in Accra yesterday, held under the theme: ‘Strengthening Command Synergy for Sustainable Growth.’

“Leadership within a security institution must go beyond authority; it must inspire professionalism, accountability, integrity, discipline and teamwork. As Regional and Sector Commanders, you occupy strategic positions that directly influence operational outcomes, staff morale, public confidence and institutional reputation,” he said.

The minister stressed that effective coordination between the GIS Headquarters, Regional and Sector Commands, and all operational units was essential to achieving the service’s strategic objectives.

He noted that despite existing challenges, the GIS leadership had demonstrated professionalism in safeguarding the country’s borders through various reforms and initiatives.

Alhaji Muntaka said the government remained committed to supporting reforms aimed at improving operational efficiency and service delivery through digital transformation, enhanced border management systems and capacity development initiatives.

He disclosed that the government had begun constructing eight regional offices, expected to be inaugurated within the next eight months, and was procuring 20 armoured vehicles for the GIS.

The minister also challenged the GIS leadership to address critical promotion bottlenecks to further enhance professionalism and operational efficiency.

The Comptroller-General of the GIS, Samuel Basintale Amadu, encouraged the commanders to propose practical solutions to strengthen institutional cohesion, enhance professionalism and promote sustainable growth.

He said such solutions were necessary in response to the evolving migration landscape, rising transnational crimes, border security challenges and rapid technological advancement.

In a speech read on his behalf by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, the Chairman of the GIS Governing Council, Rev. Stephen Y. Wengam, noted that the nation’s peace would be severely compromised without a strong, disciplined and resilient GIS.

He commended the commanders for their dedication to protecting the country’s borders and maintaining internal security.

Rev. Wengam explained that together with the Comptroller-General and the GIS management, the Governing Council had provided leadership grounded in collaboration, institutional responsiveness and strategic transformation.

He added that operational visits to the Accra International Airport and regional commands had informed the council’s policy direction and institutional reform agenda, leading to key policy proposals for the service.

According to him, the reforms continued to position the GIS as a progressive and forward-looking institution within the sub-region and beyond.