• Posted On: June 11, 2026
• Posted By: Public Affairs

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has sounded the alarm over rising abuses of the ECOWAS free movement protocol by the ECOWAS community citizens, cautioning that irregular migration, child trafficking, cyber fraud, organized street begging and other forms of organized crime networks are increasingly undermining Ghana’s internal security.

These concerns were raised during high-level talks with a delegation from the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI), led by Dr. Abraham Abdulai, at the GIS Headquarters in Accra.

The meeting formed part of WAMI’s study visit to assess the challenges being encountered in the implementation of ECOWAS protocol on free movement, trade, and the use of the ECOWAS biometric identification.

Deputy Comptroller General of Immigration in charge of Command Post and Operations, Mr. Faisal Disu, warned that “Ghana is currently attracting a lot of bad actors into the country,” stressing that proceeds from begging networks could potentially be used to finance terrorism.

Discussions also highlighted slow progress on the implementation of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card, with only Ghana, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire fully implementing the system. Currency disparities across the sub-region were flagged as another challenge.

Dr. Abdulai noted that WAMI’s ongoing exercise will help develop strategies and benchmarks, including a centralized database of ECOWAS citizens, to strengthen border management.

Both institutions emphasized the urgent need for public advocacy and sensitization campaigns on regular migration and the dangers of irregular migrations and use of unapproved border crossing routes. GIS announced plans to intensify border patrols to safeguard national security while ensuring that the principle of free movement supports, rather than undermines, Ghana’s peace and stability.

Further recommendations from the meeting are expected to inform ECOWAS policy reforms aimed at protecting lives, securing borders, and advancing genuine regional integration.

Present at the meeting were the Heads of Departments comprising; DCOI Mrs. Maud Anima Quainoo – Head of Public Affairs, DCOI Mr. Justice Amevor – Head of Operations, DCOI Mr. Kwabena Somoah Amponsah – Head of International Relations, ACI Isaac Ghansah – Head of Operational Research and Planning, and C/Supt. Enyonam Dogbegah – Border Management Department.

Photos by: Asst Inspector Manfred Owusu
Read Full Story by ASI Edna Stardnoda Akwetey