GIS debunks $240 Million E-Gate cost rumors at KIA

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has dismissed widespread claims suggesting that the e-Gate system installed at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) cost taxpayers $240 million, calling the figures inaccurate and misleading.

In a statement issued on December 19, GIS clarified that the e-Gate system is part of a broader initiative, the “Immigration 360” project, which aims to modernise Ghana’s border management across 48 entry and exit points.

Deputy Commissioner of Immigration, Maud Anima Quianoo, explained that the total implementation cost of the Immigration 360 system is $94.6 million, with the e-Gates component at KIA costing $1.7 million.

“Contrary to what has been circulated, the entire cost of the immigration control systems and e-Gates installed at KIA under Phase One of the project is $5.5 million,” Quianoo said.

She added that the inflated $240 million figure referenced online pertains to the system’s projected lifecycle cost over ten years, which includes upgrades, maintenance, and taxes.

The Immigration 360 system, developed by Ghanaian company Margins ID Systems Application Ltd. (MIDSA), integrates seamlessly with Ghana’s National Identification System, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, and international databases such as INTERPOL and ICAO. MIDSA is pre-financing the project, with costs to be recovered from system-generated revenue.

“This project represents a significant step forward in improving passenger processing, trade facilitation, and national security,” Quianoo noted, urging the public to disregard the false claims.

The GIS reiterated its commitment to transparency and efficient service delivery as it rolls out advanced border management technology across the country.