Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, has warned that passport officers may face consequences if they do not provide chip-embedded passports within 15 days.
The action is a component of the government’s reform package aimed at updating Ghana’s passport issuance process.
Mr. Ablakwa revealed on his Facebook page on Sunday, April 27, 2025, that the measures are meant to increase accountability and efficiency at passport offices nationwide.
A significant modification is the implementation of chip-embedded passports that satisfy International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
The chip enhances the document’s security by storing biometric data, making it more difficult to falsify and simpler to electronically confirm. By 2030, all member nations must replace non-chip passports, according an ICAO directive.
Additionally, Mr. Ablakwa said that applicants would not incur additional fees for the new passports’ courier delivery. The primary courier service provider is Ghana Post, which operates offices all over the nation. The closest Ghana Post office will be the location where applicants without residential addresses can pick up their passports.
A 24-hour passport operations and delivery service is being implemented in addition to the courier system. It is anticipated to generate new employment in the industry.
The cost of applying for a passport has decreased in spite of these advancements. Mr. Ablakwa clarified that there is no extra financial strain on Ghanaian taxpayers because the cost of the reforms is being paid for through a public-private partnership.
Source: newsthemegh.com