Accra, Ghana – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Ghana works with the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and the INTERPOL, National Central Bureau (NCB) of the Ghana Police Service (GHS) to further enhance the efficiency of border management operations. A recent two-day roundtable (11-12 June 2024) brought together these agencies’ technical expertise and concluded with a draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on managing traveller processing alerts which will be enhancing the country’s border security framework overall.

The roundtable discussed the coordinated management of traveller processing alerts – called ‘hit alarms’ - arising from the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS), the Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System (PISCES), as well as INTERPOL’s I-24/7 databases. The SOPs are to guide the management of these hit alarms across the three systems. This initiative underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in improving border security.

“This roundtable is a critical step in enhancing border security and management of our borders. By collaborating with GIS and INTERPOL, we aim to support the establishment of comprehensive procedures that will not only improve traveller and facilitation control but also strengthen national security," said National Officer at IOM Ghana, Mr Daniel Tagoe.

Ghana currently operates the MIDAS and PISCES border management information systems. These systems, managed by the GIS, support efficient traveller processing at air, land and sea borders. The systems provide accurate data to inform formulation of migration policies and strengthen border security.

“Integrating advanced border management information systems like MIDAS and PISCES with INTERPOL's database, raises the standard for border security and efficiency of migration management. The standard operating procedures will help to effectively manage hit alerts, ensuring our borders are safe and secured," said Assistant Commissioner of Immigration and Deputy Head of the Management Information Systems Department at GIS, Sharif Karikari.

Since the integration of MIDAS and PISCES in 2023, along with their linkage to INTERPOL’s I-24/7 database, managing the passenger processing alerts has become crucial to ensure coordinated actions and harmonized procedures.

"The integration of our databases with our national border management systems is a critical step forward. This roundtable is a significant opportunity to align our efforts and create unified procedures for managing security alerts to enhance national security,” said Director of INTERPOL NCB at the Ghana Police Service (GPS), Chief Superintendent Naomi Acquah.

This initiative is part of the "Strengthening the Northern Borders of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo" project with funding from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the Government of the United States of America which aims to reinforce border security and community engagement in the region.

For more information, please contact Nnamdi Iwuora, Senior Programme Manager at IOM Ghana, Tel: +233 302 742 930 Ext. 2401, or niwuora@iom.int.