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Ghana Immigration Service proposes SECOBOR initiative to enhance border security and officer welfare
via GhanaWeb2 min read
The Governing Council of the Ghana Immigration Service GIS is advocating for the launch of Operation Secure Our Borders SECOBOR, a public-private initiative aimed at mobilizing resources to address the needs of the GIS, including officer welfare and working conditions. This was announced by Rev. Stephen Yenusom Wengam, Chairman of the GIS Governing Council, during a briefing to President John Mahama at the Jubilee House. Rev. Wengam stated that weak border control exposes Ghana to smuggling, human trafficking, and illicit trade, threatening national security and public safety. He also noted that inadequate resources and logistical constraints erode government revenue and disrupt industries. He suggested that allowing the GIS to retain at least 80% of its internally generated funds IGF for five years could address challenges like lack of accommodation and vehicles. In 2025, the GIS generated GH垄546,042,386, retaining 40% GH垄218,416,954, with 25% allocated for the National Headquarters complex, leaving 15% for administrative and operational activities. The GIS is also prepared to lead an electronic visa system and prioritize the modernization of border control for a 24-hour economy, as only 12 of Ghana's 48 approved border crossing points are currently automated. President Mahama affirmed his government's support for retooling and modernizing the GIS, and the Minister of the Interior, Hon. Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, highlighted the importance of improving officer welfare
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KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight KL 590, en route from Accra to Amsterdam, was forced to return to Accra International Airport approximately 45 minutes after its departure on Thursday, June 11, 2026. Passengers reported anxiety among the crew and fear among those on board. While no specific reason for the emergency landing was provided to passengers, they were informed that the flight had been rescheduled. One passenger, speaking anonymously, described noticing the flight was no longer moving midway through the journey before being told it was returning to Accra. Passengers are now scheduled to depart Accra on June 12, 2026.
Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, former Odododiodoo MP and National Coordinator of the District Road Improvement Programme, has urged former MASLOC Chief Executive Officer Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu to remain resilient and use her imprisonment as an opportunity for personal reconstruction. Speaking on Channel One TV鈥檚 Breakfast Daily on Thursday, June 11, Vanderpuye acknowledged the unfortunate circumstances of Tamakloe-Attionu's return to Ghana but emphasized that it should not signify the end of her journey. He cited examples of world leaders and influential figures who overcame adversity, stating that imprisonment or public disgrace does not permanently define an individual's future. Tamakloe-Attionu was extradited from the United States to Ghana to commence a 10-year prison sentence imposed by the Accra High Court. She was convicted in absentia in 2024 for charges including stealing and causing financial loss to the state, with her actions as MASLOC CEO between 2013 and 2016 resulting in a financial loss of nearly GH垄90 million. Tamakloe-Attionu had traveled to the United States in 2021 for medical treatment with court permission but failed to return for her trial, leading to her conviction in absentia. Ghanaian authorities initiated extradition proceedings in 2025, and a US District Court in Nevada certified her extradition.
In March 1963, Professor Hoegg, a consulting town planner from Munich, Germany, visited Ghana and lauded the country's urban planning and educational facilities. He described Ghana's town and city development as comparable to the world's best planning standards. Professor Hoegg, who had reconstructed Munich and Istanbul, was particularly impressed by the Kwame Nkrumah University in Kumasi and the University of Ghana, Legon, stating their design and facilities matched and even exceeded those of European universities. He also noted Ghana's significant progress in road construction and praised the foresight in the country's long-term planning since independence. During his five-day visit, he was accompanied by Mr. P. N. K. Turkson, Chief Town Planning Officer, and toured new buildings in Accra, Tema Harbour, and townships in Kumasi.