GHC500 for passport is too expensive – Ablakwa pledges to seek parliamentary approval for review

Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has reiterated plans to reduce passport acquisition fees, citing affordability concerns for ordinary Ghanaians.

Speaking during a working visit to the Passport Office in Accra on February 19, the Minister described the current GH?500 fee as too expensive and pledged to seek parliamentary approval for a downward review.

“Passport application fees have become too expensive for the ordinary Ghanaian. People are complaining, and when we toured the country, they told us they want us to do something about it,” he said.

He further stated that the government would reevaluate the fee structure to ensure affordability, especially for underprivileged groups.

“We want to take a second look at the structure. We will go back to Parliament to amend the fees and charges. Our goal is to reduce fees for ordinary Ghanaians and make passports more affordable. I also believe that certain groups, like brilliant but needy students on scholarships, should be able to acquire passports for free,” he added.

However, he clarified that business professionals and entrepreneurs who require premium services would not benefit from the reduced fees, as they can afford the current charges.

REFORMS TO IMPROVE PASSPORT ACQUISITION

Beyond fee reductions, the Minister outlined a series of reforms aimed at making passport acquisition faster and more efficient. These include: making provision in the 2025 budget to expand and upgrade passport offices nationwide, establishing new offices in all regions to improve accessibility and reviving and completing stalled passport office projects.

IMPLEMENTION OF 24-HOUR ECONOMY AT PASSPORT OFFICES

As part of broader government policy, the Minister also announced the full implementation of a 24-hour economy at passport offices, aimed at speeding up processing times.

“Passport administration in Ghana is going to run 24/7 under President Mahama’s 24-hour economy policy. We will introduce three shifts so that instead of waiting months for a passport, applicants can receive theirs within a week,” he stated.

To support this initiative, the Ministry is procuring buses for staff working late shifts and improving security at passport offices.

CLEARING BACKLOG

Currently, over 70,000 printed passports remain uncollected at various passport offices across the country. The government hopes that these reforms will address the backlog and streamline the application process.

These initiatives mark a significant step towards improving passport acquisition in Ghana, ensuring affordability, efficiency, and accessibility for all citizens.

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