Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has charted a new course of transformation, recording major gains within the first year of Comptroller‑General Samuel Basintale Amadu’s leadership.

His appointment in March 2025 by President John Dramani Mahama marked the beginning of a renewed national drive towards stronger border security, operational efficiency and institutional reform.

Following his vetting by the Public Services Commission, the Comptroller‑General was tasked with a critical mandate: safeguarding Ghana’s territorial integrity, strengthening intelligence‑led operations, enhancing inter‑agency collaboration, and dismantling transnational criminal networks, particularly those involved in smuggling and human trafficking.

Central to this agenda is the modernisation of border management systems and the accelerated digitalisation of visa and permit processes to improve service delivery.

According to the statement, one year into his tenure, the GIS has recorded significant progress across key operational areas, including revenue generation, enforcement, infrastructure development and international cooperation.

However, it was opined that, under CGI Amadu’s leadership, the Service has adopted a results‑driven approach aligned with national priorities.

The report revealed that, over the past year, GIS generated more than GHS46 million in revenue, largely driven by reforms in visa and permit processing. It also stated that a total of 186,959 permits and visas were issued, representing a 32.5 per cent increase over the previous year.

It noted that these achievements are attributable to ongoing investments in digital infrastructure, automation and system upgrades, which have significantly reduced processing times and enhanced transparency.

The statement further added that the Service efficiently managed over 2.8 million passenger movements across Ghana’s air, land and sea entry points without major incident.

It, however, disclosed that this performance played a key role in supporting national initiatives such as the "2025 December in Gbana" tourism initiative, which recorded increased international arrivals.