E-Gates Cost $1.7M, Not $240M – Ghana Immigration Service Refutes False Claims

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has officially debunked claims circulating on social media that the recently installed electronic gates (E-Gates) at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) cost $240 million. In a press release issued on Thursday, December 19, 2024, the GIS clarified that the actual cost of the E-Gates at KIA is $1.7 million.

According to the statement, the E-Gates are part of a broader initiative called the “Immigration 360” project, an integrated border management system aimed at automating passenger processing and data management across the nation’s 48 approved entry and exit points. The press release also provided a detailed breakdown of the project’s scope and costs, emphasizing the distinction between the cost of the E-Gates and the overall project expenditure.

“The Ghana Immigration Service is implementing a new integrated border management system known as the ‘Immigration 360’,” the statement read. “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. The new system addresses challenges with sovereignty, interoperability, and other inadequacies associated with the existing systems installed at twelve (12) approved borders.”

Breakdown of Costs

The GIS stated unequivocally that the cost of the E-Gate system alone, which includes 15 units of E-Gates and accessories installed at KIA, is $1.7 million.

“It is inaccurate that the E-Gate system installed at KIA cost a total amount of $240 million,” the statement emphasized. “The E-Gate system alone (comprising 15 units of E-Gates with accessories) costs $1.7 million (i.e., $1,760,479.80).”

Clarifying the $240 Million Figure

The GIS explained that the $240 million figure circulating on social media pertains to the total cost of phases one and two of the Immigration 360 project. This includes installations, maintenance, licensing, taxes, and periodic upgrades across all 48 entry points in Ghana.

“The $240 million 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 GIS noted.

The statement further detailed the project’s financial structure, highlighting that the $240 million includes:

• Three replacement cycles of critical system components.
• Two five-year upgrade cycles within the 10-year project timeline.
• Ongoing maintenance, licensing, and technical support services.
• VAT and other taxes, which bring the total to $274 million over the project’s 10-year lifecycle.

Ensuring Sustainability

The GIS emphasized that the periodic upgrades and comprehensive maintenance plan are designed to ensure the system remains operational at all times. Additionally, the system will be handed back as a fully refreshed infrastructure at the end of the 10-year period.

“This approach ensures a refresh of the system at all times and guarantees the hand back of a brand-new system at the end of the ten-year period,” the statement explained.

By providing this clarification, the Ghana Immigration Service aims to dispel misinformation and reaffirm its commitment to transparency and effective border management. The E-Gates are a key step toward modernizing Ghana’s immigration processes and enhancing national security.