Comptroller-General of Immigration Samuel Basintale Amadu with President John Dramani Mahama
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has recorded a sharp rise in revenue, generating over GH¢546 million within a year, as reforms under Comptroller-General Samuel Basintale Amadu begin to yield measurable results.
The milestone, announced in a statement issued on Tuesday, March 24, reflects a broader institutional push toward efficiency, digitalisation, and tighter border control systems.
Driving the surge, the GIS attributed much of the growth to reforms in visa and permit processing.
The Service issued 186,959 permits and visas during the period, representing a 32.5% increase over the previous year. Officials say sustained investments in digital infrastructure and automation have reduced processing times while improving transparency and accountability.
Beyond revenue performance, the Service also demonstrated strong operational capacity, managing over 2.8 million passenger movements across air, land, and sea entry points without major incidents.
This, in turn, supported national tourism efforts, particularly the “2025 December in Ghana” initiative, which recorded increased international arrivals.
The gains come one year after Amadu’s appointment in March 2025 by President John Dramani Mahama, with a mandate to strengthen border security, enhance intelligence-led operations, and modernise immigration systems.
Since then, the GIS has intensified enforcement activities, leading to significant seizures of smuggled goods, narcotics, and ammunition, alongside the arrest of thousands for immigration-related offences.
In tandem with enforcement, the Service has expanded its intelligence and legal operations, deepening collaboration with partner agencies and securing convictions in cases involving illegal entry, fraud, and cybercrime.
Efforts to combat document fraud have also been scaled up, with enhanced systems detecting a growing number of forged travel and identification documents.
At the institutional level, the GIS has prioritised capacity building, with hundreds of officers undergoing specialised training in counter-terrorism, crisis management, and border security, both locally and internationally. These interventions are aimed at strengthening professionalism and preparing personnel for evolving security challenges.
Meanwhile, ongoing infrastructure expansion across key locations, including Tema, Kumasi, and Tamale, is improving decentralised operations, staff working conditions, and service delivery nationwide. Strategic partnerships with international organisations are also contributing to improved knowledge sharing and more integrated border management systems.
Looking ahead, the Service is advancing Project SECOBOR, a public-private partnership initiative designed to address gaps in surveillance, logistics, and officer welfare. Additional proposals, including a health insurance scheme and a staff endowment fund, are also under consideration.
Find below a document on a detailed account of GIS records, major gains in the first year under CGI Samuel Basintale Amadu
PUBLICATION CGI First year after appointment 1_073130
