The Upper East Regional Minister has inspected the newly established temporary Passport Office in Bolgatanga, situated within the premises of the Ghana Commercial Bank.
The inspection, conducted on Thursday, was aimed at assessing the readiness of the facility before its official opening. He was accompanied by the Acting Chief Director of the Regional Coordinating Council, Alhaji Mohammed Issahaku.
For years, the absence of a passport office in the Upper East Region has posed major challenges to residents, who have had to travel long distances to the Upper West Region or Northern Region to acquire passports. This situation has particularly affected Hajj pilgrims, students, and frequent travelers.
Speaking after touring the facility, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the progress made and assured residents that the office would be operational in the coming week.
“I engaged the Minister for Foreign Affairs earlier, and he indicated that once the fittings are ready, they can commission and begin services here. The government’s agenda to reset Ghana includes ensuring that every region has a passport office by the end of the year. That is why we decided to establish this temporary office so residents of Upper East will not be left behind,” he stated.
Temporary Office Born Out of Community Effort
The decision to set up a temporary passport office in Bolgatanga became necessary after the construction of the main regional passport office stalled for over a year. To address the urgent need, the Alagumgube Group, an association of natives of Bolgatanga based in New Jersey mobilized resources to rehabilitate an existing Ghana Commercial Bank structure for the project.
Founder and chairman of the group, Gabriel Agambila, expressed gratitude to all contributors, describing the initiative as a landmark step in improving access to essential government services in the Upper East Region.
A Relief for Travelers in Upper East
Once operational, the Bolgatanga Passport Office will save residents time and money while boosting convenience for individuals applying for passports, especially those preparing for international travel.
The move forms part of the government’s broader vision to ensure that all 16 regions in Ghana have fully functional passport offices by the end of the year.
