The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has refuted allegations that the recently deployed E-Gate system at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) cost taxpayers $240 million. The claims have sparked accusations of corruption due to the government’s engagement of a private company for the system’s activation.
Minority Chief Whip Governs Kwame Agbodza criticized the arrangement, calling it a case of “create, loot, and share.” During an interview on December 18, he questioned why $147 million was reportedly spent on the E-Gate system, noting that the entire airport was constructed for $250 million.
In a statement on December 19, GIS dismissed the $240 million figure as inaccurate, urging the public to disregard such claims. The service reiterated its commitment to transparency in project implementation and provided detailed cost breakdowns for the new integrated border management system, known as “Immigration 360.”
According to GIS, the Immigration 360 system is designed to automate passenger processing and data management at all 48 approved entry/exit points across Ghana. The total cost of the project is $94.6 million. Phase One, which includes the installation of border management systems and the E-Gate component at KIA, cost $5.5 million.
Specifically, the E-Gate system at KIA, comprising 15 units with accessories, cost $1.7 million. GIS explained that the widely circulated $240 million figure refers to the total lifecycle cost of the project over 10 years. This includes periodic upgrades, maintenance, licenses, and tax-related costs, bringing the total to $274 million.
The upgrades involve three replacement cycles for critical components and two five-year refresh cycles for the system’s infrastructure, ensuring a fully operational and modernized system throughout its lifecycle. The system integrates seamlessly with local databases, such as Ghana’s National Identification System (NIS), Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), and international systems like INTERPOL and ICAO’s Public Key Directory (PKD).
GIS clarified that Margins ID Systems Application Ltd, a Ghanaian private company, developed and pre-financed the $94.6 million implementation cost. The company will recover its costs from revenues generated through the system’s use.
“The Immigration 360 system offers comprehensive integration with visas, permits, and border control processes across the country,” GIS stated, emphasizing its strategic importance for travel, trade, and security.
