The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is taking steps to make the Mobile Passport Application Centre a permanent feature of Ghana’s passport services to improve efficiency, reduce waiting times and bring passport application services closer to the public, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced.
Mr Ablakwa disclosed that Parliament is expected to consider an appropriate service fee for the mobile passport initiative ahead of its wider rollout. The programme is designed to make passport services more accessible to institutions, organisations and individuals who require biometric and biodata capture at their preferred locations.
The minister made the announcement during a working visit to the Ashanti Regional Passport Application Centre on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. During the visit, he interacted with staff to assess operational challenges and gain firsthand knowledge of the conditions affecting passport application and processing services.
Mobile Passport Service to Improve Passport Application in Ghana
The Mobile Passport Application Centre, which has previously operated as a temporary service, is expected to become a permanent part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ passport delivery system, supported by dedicated personnel.
The initiative operates as a passport office on wheels, travelling to communities, educational institutions, workplaces and other locations upon request to provide services similar to those available at conventional Passport Application Centres.
According to the ministry, the mobile passport service is intended to reduce overcrowding at passport offices, minimise long-distance travel for applicants and improve access to passport services across regions and districts. It will also support special outreach programmes aimed at making passport application procedures more convenient for the public.
Ashanti Region to Get Second Passport Application Centre in 2027
Mr Ablakwa has also announced plans to establish a second Passport Application Centre in the Ashanti Region by the first quarter of 2027.
He explained that the region’s growing population has placed considerable pressure on existing passport office facilities, staff and equipment, making the expansion necessary to improve service delivery.
Construction work on the new passport centre at Ashanti Mampong has made progress and is expected to help reduce the burden on the existing facility.
The new office is also expected to ease the difficulties faced by applicants who travel long distances to attend scheduled biometric data capture appointments.
The planned facility will build on the expansion of passport services through seven centres opened last year in the Upper East Region and Ghana’s six newly created regions.
The minister expressed confidence that the additional passport office would improve accessibility while creating opportunities for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to increase its internally generated funds (IGF).
Government Introduces Reforms to Boost Passport Service Revenue
The Foreign Affairs Minister said ongoing innovations in passport administration are helping to increase revenue and support the development, renovation and modernisation of Passport Application Centres across the country.
He noted that available data indicated an increase in revenue compared with previous years, attributing the improvement partly to new measures introduced to strengthen passport service delivery.
However, Mr Ablakwa acknowledged that further reforms and investments would be required to address operational challenges and improve the overall experience of passport applicants.
The ministry’s strategy is focused on improving infrastructure, modernising equipment and making passport application services more efficient, accessible and responsive to public needs.
Ministry Acquires 20 Pickup Vehicles for Passport Offices
As part of efforts to improve operational efficiency and staff mobility, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has procured 20 pickup vehicles for Passport Application Centres nationwide.
Mr Ablakwa described the acquisition as part of a broader programme to upgrade facilities and improve working conditions at passport offices across Ghana.
He explained that some vehicles previously used by the centres had become inefficient and needed replacement to support essential duties and improve service delivery.
The minister also highlighted the need to replace outdated computers, furniture and other operational equipment to ensure that passport officers can perform their duties effectively.
He said his visit to the Ashanti Regional Passport Application Centre was intended to verify reports about daily operations and assess the actual conditions confronting staff and applicants.
Ablakwa Prioritises Staff Welfare and Faster Passport Processing
Mr Ablakwa assured passport office staff that their welfare would remain a priority, adding that the ministry was committed to creating a conducive working environment that would enable employees to deliver quality services.
He nevertheless urged staff to accelerate the processing and transfer of completed passport applications to ensure that applicants receive their passports within the stipulated 15 working days.
The minister also called on passport officers to give special attention to elderly applicants and maintain high standards of customer service for everyone seeking passport-related assistance.
He emphasised that improving customer care and maintaining efficient processing timelines were essential to sustaining public confidence in the government’s passport service reforms.
The planned expansion of passport centres, introduction of permanent mobile passport services and investment in vehicles and equipment form part of broader efforts to modernise Ghana’s passport application system and make services more convenient for citizens nationwide.
Source: newsthemegh.com