Migration and Border Management System in Ghana: The Contribution of Ghana Immigration Service

Abstract

Migration and border management remain central to Ghana’s national security, human mobility, and development discourse. As a key institution mandated to regulate and facilitate migration, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) plays a critical role in safeguarding territorial integrity while promoting lawful and humane mobility. This paper examines the evolving relationship between migration governance and border management in Ghana, focusing on the contribution of the GIS within the broader national and regional migration architecture. Drawing on recent policy developments, including the GIS Strategic Plan (2023–2029), the International Centre for Migration Policy Development’s (ICMPD) Strengthening Border Security in Ghana Project (2023), and the 2021 Population and Housing Census Thematic Report on Migration, the paper analyses the institutional, legal, and operational frameworks that shape border management. It identifies persistent challenges such as porous borders, resource constraints, and coordination gaps among agencies, and proposes reforms anchored in technology, inter-agency collaboration, and regional cooperation. The study concludes that strengthening migration governance and border management requires not only enhanced GIS capacity but also integrated policy frameworks aligned with ECOWAS and AU protocols on mobility and security.