Over the past four months, more than 150 foreign nationals involved in human trafficking and cyber fraud have been arrested in a joint operation between the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), and the Cyber Security Authority (CSA).
“Through our joint investigations, traffickers have been prosecuted, victims rescued and repatriated with the assistance of the Immigration Service,” the Director-General of CSA, Mr Divine Selase Agbeti, revealed.
Speaking at this year’s National Cyber Security Awareness Engagement with GIS in Accra, on the theme: ‘Building a Safe, Informed and Accountable Digital Space,’ he cautioned the public to remain vigilant, warning against online scams, especially fake recruitment offers purportedly from public institutions.
“No official from the Immigration Service, the Presidency or Parliament will contact you on social media to offer jobs for money. Stay alert; these are traps by cybercriminals,” he added.
Mr Agbeti commended the GIS for its collaboration in tackling cyber-enabled crimes.
The Deputy Comptroller-General of Immigration (DCGI) in charge of Operations and Command Post, Mr Loud Ofori Affrifa, reaffirmed GIS’s commitment to strengthening border security through advanced digital systems and enhanced cyber resilience.
This, he emphasised, forms part of efforts to combat emerging threats linked to human trafficking, cyber fraud, and transnational crime.
Mr Affrifa noted that the Service was aligning itself with the national goal of securing both the physical and digital frontiers of the country.
The GIS, he said, had adopted a sub-theme: ‘Securing Ghana’s Borders in the Digital Age,’ to reflect its expanding role in protecting the nation against cyber-related threats.
He further explained that in today’s interconnected world, national security could no longer be confined to physical boundaries but must include the digital space, where criminals exploit technology to commit crimes such as trafficking and money laundering.
“The strength of a nation increasingly depends on how well it protects its digital frontiers,” he stated.
Highlighting the Service’s progress, Mr Affrifa cited the deployment of digital systems such as the Personal Identification and Secure Evaluation System (PISES), the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS), and the Border Permit Management System — all of which have improved data accuracy, operational efficiency, and intelligence coordination.
Additionally, he announced that GIS had established a dedicated Cybersecurity Unit with support from the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) to strengthen internal resilience.
He also revealed the Integrated Intelligence Infrastructure Project, which includes the installation of 50 anti-ballistic turbines in the northern sector equipped with drone surveillance software.
“Our training teams are currently being equipped in drone piloting to enhance intelligence gathering. This initiative underscores how critical cybersecurity has become to our border operations,” he added.
The Deputy Comptroller of Immigration (Legal), Mr Peter Philip Andor, emphasised the growing link between cybercrime and irregular migration, noting that many trafficked victims were lured through online job offers.
He urged the public to report suspicious gatherings of foreigners or unusual digital activities in their communities.
BY CECILIA YADA LAGBA
#CyberSecurity #GhanaImmigrationService #CyberFraud #HumanTrafficking #OnlineScams #FakeRecruitment #DigitalSafety #CSAGhana #BorderSecurity #DroneSurveillance #GhanaNews
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