The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has rejected claims that the E-Gate system recently installed at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) cost $240 million, clarifying that this figure is inaccurate.
The accusations surfaced following criticisms of the government’s decision to partner with a private company for the system’s activation, with the Minority in Parliament raising concerns of potential corruption.
Minority Chief Whip, Governs Kwame Agbodza, referred to the arrangement as a case of “create, loot, and share” during an interview on Wednesday, December 18, and questioned the $147 million allegedly spent on the system, considering the entire airport’s construction cost was $250 million.
In response, the GIS issued a statement on Thursday, December 19, urging the public to disregard the circulating $240 million figure. The service emphasized its commitment to transparency and accountability in implementing projects.
The GIS outlined that the actual total cost for the “Immigration 360” border management system, which aims to fully automate passenger processing and data management at 48 approved entry and exit points, is $94.6 million. The cost for Phase One, which includes the E-Gate system at KIA, is $5.5 million, with the E-Gate system itself amounting to $1.7 million.
The GIS further clarified that the $240 million figure refers to the entire cost of the project over its full implementation cycle, including the initial phase.
“The $240 million includes two (2) periodic wholesale upgrades of the critical components of the system and the cost of maintenance and licenses over the 10-year cycle of the project. The first upgrade type is in three (3) replacement cycles of key components of the system. The second upgrade type is two (2) 5-year upgrade cycles within ten (10) years to replace major components of the technical infrastructure. This is to ensure a refresh of the system at all times and to ensure the handback of a brand-new system at the end of the ten-year period.
“After accounting for VAT and other taxes, the total comes to $274 million, which includes maintenance and hands-on support services over a ten-year period to guarantee the system is operational around-the-clock. It is worth noting that the Immigration 360 provides the benefits of integrating seamlessly with local databases: Ghana’s National Identification System (NIS), Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), National Stop/Watch List, and international systems.
“INTERPOL’s Global Stop/Watch List, ICAO’s Public Key Directory (PKD), Advanced Passenger Information (API), Passenger Name Record (PNR), Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System (PISCES), which facilitate travel, trade and security,” GIS stated.
GIS further stressed that the system, developed by Margins ID Systems Application Ltd, a private, local Ghanaian company, offered the capabilities to also integrate the various visas and permits issued by the GIS with the border controls processes across the country.
“It is important to note that Margins ID Systems Application Ltd (MIDSA) is pre-financing the implementation cost of $94,664,374.57 and will be repaid from revenue that will accrue from the use of the system,” it added.
