Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has indicated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration is considering a reduction in passport application fees.
This development comes in response to public concerns over the significant fee increases implemented in April 2024.
In April 2024, the Ministry announced substantial hikes in passport processing fees, with the cost for a 32-page standard booklet rising to GHC500 and a 48-page standard booklet to GHC644.
Expedited services were set at GHC700 for the 32-page and GHC800 for the 48-page booklets.
These adjustments represented an approximate 544% increase from the previous fees, leading to widespread public discontent.
At that time, Mr. Ablakwa, serving as the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, voiced his disappointment with the fee hikes, describing them as “draconian” and “insensitive” given the prevailing economic challenges faced by Ghanaians.
He urged the Ministry to exercise “administrative discretion” to reconsider and reduce the fees.
Now, as the newly appointed Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Ablakwa has pledged to address these concerns.
He emphasized the need for the Ministry to be responsive to the economic realities of citizens and hinted at potential measures to alleviate the financial burden associated with acquiring passports.
In addition to fee adjustments, Minister Ablakwa has outlined plans to reform the passport application and issuance process through technology-driven solutions.
He aims to streamline procedures, reduce delays, and eliminate the involvement of intermediaries who exploit applicants.
Proposed initiatives include enhancing the online application system and simplifying biometric data collection, with the goal of making passport acquisition more efficient and accessible for all Ghanaians.
These proposed reforms reflect the Ministry’s commitment to improving service delivery and ensuring that essential services like passport issuance are both affordable and user-friendly for the populace.