Ghana Immigration Service

Ghana Immigration Service

Emblem of the Ghana Immigration Service
Department overview
Formed 1957
Jurisdiction Republic of Ghana
Headquarters Independence Avenue, Accra,
Greater Accra, Ghana
Minister responsible
  • Mr. Prosper D.K Bani, Minister for the Interior
Department executive
  • Mr. Felix Sarpong,, Acting Director of Immigration
Parent Department Ministry of Interior (Ghana)
Website http://www.ghanaimmigration.org
Ghana
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Ghana
Constitution

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) is an organ of government under the Ministry of the Interior of Ghana which regulates Examination and authorization of application for visas, entry and residence permits in Ghana. Control of foreign nationals in Ghana, Facilitation of Ghanaian passport application processing, Border control and management, Refugee registration, protection and management. The service also advises on and ensures the effective implementation of all laws and regulations pertaining to immigration and related issues.[1]

History

Prior to Ghana's independence from Britain, the service was known as the Immigration and Passport Unit,[1] and was under the auspices of the Colonial Police Force of the British-ruled Gold Coast.[1] The unit was headed by Mr. Nevile C. Hill.[1]

After the country gained independence in 1957, the expansion of the Ghanaian economy increased the number of foreign businessmen trading in the country. Again, because of Ghana's lead in the emancipation of the African continent from colonial rule, the number of tourists visiting the country, particularly from neighbouring African states, also increased. To control this influx, a Cabinet decision in 1960 moved the Immigration and Passport Unit to the Ministry of the Interior as a department. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs took over the issuing of passports after the change.

Three years after the Immigration Service was moved to the Ministry of Interior, the Aliens Act 1963 (Act 160) was enacted to give legal backing to immigration operations.[1] The Ghana Immigration Service was established in 1989 under PNDC Law 226. The service has a statutory mandate to regulate and monitor the entry, residence, employment and exit of foreigners in the country. The passage of the Immigration Act of 2000 (Act 573) expanded the functions and roles of the Service to include giving Indefinite Residence and Right of Abode facilities to foreigners.[1]

Functions of the service

The Immigration Service is charged with handling all the needs that relate to the country's dealings with non-citizens. The functions of the service are:

  1. to create conducive environments, through the establishment of regulatory frameworks that facilitate the entry, residence and employment of foreigners in Ghana
  2. to promote socio-cultural and economic development, by drawing a tangent between the promotion of tourism, foreign direct investments, international business and technological transfer without compromising on national security.

How to get a passport

Acquiring a Ghanaian passport is a six (6) step process:[2]

  1. You purchases passport application form from approved point of sale (some local banks)
  2. Complete passport application form correctly and submits it together with relevant documents to a Passport Application Center [PAC]
  3. You are invited to take digital photograph and biometric data-finger-prints
  4. You receives a submission receipt, with passport collection date
  5. When your passports is issued, it is sent to PAC where applicants can collect their passports by presenting their submission receipt and undergoing a final biometric check.

This comes at a fee of GH¢100.00 [US$70.00] for the Express service and GH¢50.00 [US$35.00] for Regular service. However, it is difficult to acquire a passport in the period assigned to the application form due to reasons such as shortage of passport booklets and break-down of passport printers. Shortage of passport application forms is also a hindrance to easy acquisition of the Ghanaian passport.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SERVICE". www.ghanaimmigration.org. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  2. ↑ http://www.ghanaimmigration.org/acquisi_info.html
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