Bright Simons questions exclusivity of Ghana Card in e-gate operations

Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI Ghana, has criticized Ghana's e-gate configuration under the $300 million e-immigration project, which exclusively requires the Ghana Card, rendering it ineffective for most travelers.

He highlighted that this move undermines global norms where e-gates align with entry protocols, such as facilitating ECOWAS passport holders.

Simons alleges the project’s purpose was to benefit the Margins Group, which also manages Ghana's privatized national ID system. Despite prior investments of ~$20 million by the World Bank in an operational e-immigration system, the project was restructured into a $240 million endeavor, allegedly to benefit politically connected contractors.

He claims the project imposes financial burdens on Ghana’s aviation and immigration resources, amounting to a “privatization of national security,” with the Vice President's office allegedly backing the deal.