The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has said that allegations that the e-Gates at the Kotoka International Airport cost US$240 million is false.
In a statement signed by the Deputy Commissioner in charge of Special Duties and Public Affairs, Maud Anima Quianoo, GIS said the e-Gates is part of a ew integrated border management system known as the “Immigration 360”, which cost a total of US$94.6 million and not US$240 million.
It said the system seeks to fully automate passenger processing and data management at all the forty-eight (48) approved entry/exit points to Ghana and other operational commands, adding that it also seeks to address challenges with sovereignty, interoperability and other inadequacies associated with the existing systems installed at twelve (12) approved borders.
According the statement, the Immigration 360 will provide the benefits of integrating seamlessly with the following:
Local Databases – particularly, Ghana’s National Identification System (NIS), Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), and National Stop/Watch List.
International Systems – such as INTERPOL’s Global Stop/Watch List, ICAO’s Public Key Directory (PKD), Advanced Passenger Information (API), Passenger Name Record (PNR) and Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System (PISCES) which facilitate travel, trade and security.
According to the statement, as part of Phase One (1) of the project, the GIS is installing border management systems including an e-Gate component at the KIA which is geared at enhancing smooth passenger clearance and processing.
“This whole component for the KIA comprising the immigration control systems and the e-gates cost a little over $5.5 million (i.e., $5,548,860.89),” the statement said. “The e-Gate system alone, comprising of 15 units of e-gates with accessories, which form part of the border management system being installed at KIA costs $1.7 million (i.e., $1,760,479.80).
Explaining the US$240 million
The statement explained that the $240 million (which comes to US$274 million including VAT) referenced in the circulating article on social media is in relation to the whole cycle cost of the project, including the initial implementation cost of $94,664,374.57.
The $240 million, it said, includes two (2) periodic wholesale upgrades of the critical components of the system and cost of maintenance and licenses over the 10-year cycle of the project.
According to GIS, the first upgrade type is in three (3) replacement cycles of key components of the system, while 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 hand back of a brand-new system at the end of the ten-year period,” the statement said.
Margins Prefinancing
According to the statement, the system was developed by Margins ID Systems Application Ltd, a private, local Ghanaian company, and it offers 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.
The statement however stopped short of confirming or denying allegations that passengers traveling through KIA will be made to use the e-Gates at the cost of US$5 per passenger.
