The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has refuted claims that the E-Gate system recently introduced at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) cost taxpayers $240 million.

The accusations followed criticisms from the Minority in Parliament, with Minority Chief Whip, Governs Kwame Agbodza, accusing the government of corruption in awarding the contract to a private company. Agbodza questioned why $147 million was allegedly spent on the E-Gate system, noting that the entire airport had been built for $250 million.

In a statement on Thursday, December 19, the GIS clarified that the $240 million figure widely circulated on social media was inaccurate and urged the public to disregard the claim. The service outlined that the total cost of the “Immigration 360” border management system, which includes the E-Gate component, was $94.6 million. This system is designed to automate passenger processing and data management at Ghana’s 48 approved entry and exit points.

As part of the first phase of the project, the E-Gate system at KIA, which includes 15 e-gates and other necessary equipment, cost $5.5 million. The E-Gate system alone amounted to $1.7 million, according to the GIS.

The GIS further explained that the $240 million figure refers to the total lifecycle cost of the project, which includes periodic upgrades and maintenance over a 10-year period. This encompasses two major system upgrades and three cycles of replacing key components to ensure the technology remains current throughout the project’s duration.

After accounting for VAT and other taxes, the total cost over 10 years is estimated at $274 million, which includes maintenance and operational support to ensure continuous system functionality. The Immigration 360 system also integrates with various national and international databases, including Ghana’s National Identification System and INTERPOL’s Global Stop/Watch List.

The system, developed by the local company Margins ID Systems Application Ltd (MIDSA), will be funded through revenue generated by the system’s use, with MIDSA pre-financing the $94.6 million implementation cost.

The GIS emphasized its commitment to transparency and accountability in the execution of the project.

Source:TheDotNews