IMMIGRATION OFFICERS in the Brong-Ahafo region have expressed dissatisfaction over the dire accommodation challenges facing personnel in the various districts.
According to them, most of the officers posted to the area have turned into �perchers� sojourning with friends as they are unable to pay their piling hotel bills.
The officers who randomly expressed their frustrations to the paper in an interview said the lack of standard offices, equipment and accommodation for officers at the municipal and district levels, especially, in the newly created ones, have made it difficult for them to perform their duties satisfactorily.
Speaking to the Daily Heritage in an interview, one officer who pleaded anonymity claimed that he had lived in a hotel at his own expense since he reported for duty about six months ago.
�There is no electricity, water and toilet facility in the residence officially allocated to me and I have had no option than to lodge at the hotel,� he said.
He opined that several personnel were experiencing the same challenges making their stay uncomfortable adding; �that is a major contributory factor for the failure of some officers to accept postings to some areas.�
He noted that offices of the Immigration Service were often sited at places difficult for people to notice and that had contributed to the low turn-out of passport applicants.
He pointed out that senior officials of the service do not pay regular visits to the deprived areas as they do to border areas where income generation is high and conditions seem to be better.
The Director of the Ghana Immigration Service, COP Peter Wiredu, confirmed the plight of the officers, explaining the service has 176 personnel in the region but, currently, they do have limited facilities.
He appealed to the government to help address residential and infrastructural challenges plaguing the personnel in the region.
He observed that because of the lack of offices, the Immigration Service is unable to perform efficiently as a service adding that �intentions of mounting a guard at Kenyasi and Kintampo have been put on hold to that effect.�
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