Ghana to Open Passport Offices in all 16 Regions
Accra, Ghana - 14 March, 2025 - In a bid to revolutionize passport application services, Ghana's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced plans to establish passport application centers in all 16 regions of the country.
This move, according to Ablakwa, aims to alleviate the pressure on the sole application facility in Accra, which has been grappling with overwhelming demand and lengthy processing times.
"Our plan now is to regionalise and make sure we have passport application centers in all the 16 regions of Ghana. We do not currently have plans to have district offices" he remarked on the floor of Parliament on Thursday 13 March.
He added that by decentralizing passport services, the government seeks to make it more convenient for citizens to access and process their travel documents without having to travel to the capital.
“We take the view that the reforms we are carrying out, the delivery, the 24-hour operations, reducing the waiting period and all of that, should suffice once you have regional offices and the courier service will make sure that your passport is delivered to you wherever you are in the region."
While there are no immediate plans to extend these services to the district level, regional offices are expected to suffice in meeting the needs of citizens.
The current passport application center in Accra is overwhelmed, handling a high volume of applicants daily. This has resulted in increased costs, congestion, and prolonged waiting periods for citizens traveling from across the country.
Moreover, there have been complaints about inefficiencies, including delays in processing and difficulties in securing appointments.
The new regional passport application centers will offer a range of services, including online applications, expedited processing, and courier services for passport delivery.
This initiative is part of the government's efforts to reform and improve passport services, ensuring that citizens can access their travel documents efficiently and conveniently.
Source: Lead News Online
