Minister of Foreign Affairs promises 15-day passport delivery under new reform

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has revealed a new passport delivery system that will enable Ghanaians to receive their passports within 15 days, as part of systematic changes to improve access streamline application processes

During the launch, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the Ministry is committed to ensuring efficiency and transparency in passport service delivery.

Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa revealed that “Ghanaian passport applicants are no longer required to go back to the passport application center to collect their passports. We have introduced courier services making sure that passports are delivered to the comfort of the homes and offices of applicants.” The new system is based on President John Mahama’s 24-hour economy vision. Due to that, the passport office is now operating under a 24-hour basis to  speed up on processing and service delivery.

As part of the courier delivery, he said that, the Ministry has brought up an electronic tracking (e-tracking), providing real-time updates to progress their applications from submission to final delivery. “This is meant to improve transparency and reduce opportunities for corruption,” Mr Ablakwa said.

He highlighted that “We are determined to eliminate bottlenecks and end the exploitation of citizens by middlemen who have thrived on the frustrations and delays caused by our old systems.” He again disclosed that the Ministry is working towards guaranteeing, so that all ordinary passport applications are delivered to the end user within 15 days.

For applicants with immediate needs , he noted that the Ministry is revising the fee structure act Act to introduce a 24-hour passport delivery option. This will serve medical, academic, and other emergencies, only if the requisite charges are settled. He again said that “This is the surest way to end the unfortunate middleman phenomenon.”

Ace per the Minister, This kind of reform were initiated due to his visit to the passport office during his first week in office. He was shocked to find over 70,000 uncollected passports. “Many have lost hope” he said. “The system was overly complex and frustrating. We believe that, the reform will eliminate these issues and passports can be delivered smoothly.”

As part of the reform, prices of passport was also reduced from GH¢500 to GH¢350. According to Minister Ablakwa, the reduction in passport fees is part of the government’s efforts to promote economic growth and development. “We believe that by making passports more accessible, we can promote trade, tourism, and economic development,” he added.

The reduction in passport fees comes amid growing concerns over the high cost of obtaining a passport in Ghana. Many Ghanaians had complained about the previous cost of GH¢500, citing it as a significant financial burden. The government’s decision to reduce the cost is seen as a response to these concerns and a move towards making passports more accessible to all Ghanaians.

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