Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP), has outlined major strides made under Ghana’s ongoing Passport Reforms Programme, aimed at improving efficiency, affordability, and security in the passport acquisition process.

Addressing the media at the Ministry’s headquarters in Accra on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, the Minister announced the introduction of a 24-hour expedited passport processing service, available at a fee of GH₵2,000. The new service, he said, will ensure that applicants with urgent travel needs can obtain their passports without delays.

Mr. Ablakwa further revealed that, effective November 13, 2025, the cost of a standard passport application will be reduced by 30% from GH₵500 to GH₵350 in accordance with Parliamentary approval. He assured the public that the price cut would not affect the quality of Ghanaian passports, describing it instead as part of government’s effort to make essential public services more affordable and citizen friendly.

The Minister recalled the successful launch of Ghana’s ICAO-compliant, chip-embedded passport on April 28, 2025, and disclosed that as of November 11, 2025, over 215,807 Ghanaians across all sixteen regions had received the upgraded passports.

As part of broader service improvements, the Ministry has also introduced nationwide home delivery of passports at no additional cost, alongside 24-hour operations at the Passport Head Office to meet growing demand. Through an enhanced electronic tracking system, applicants can now monitor the progress of their applications in real time from submission to printing and delivery.

Dr. Ablakwa further announced that the Ministry had cleared a backlog of more than 40,000 pending applications, restoring public confidence in the system. Under the reformed process, passport applications are now completed within 15 days.

On Ghana’s growing global access, the Minister revealed that the country has secured 11 new visa waiver agreements, bringing the total number of visa-free destinations for Ghanaian passport holders to 42. He added that the Ministry remains committed to maintaining strong security protocols to protect the integrity of the Ghanaian passport and prevent misuse by non-citizens.

The Minister also reaffirmed government’s goal to decentralize passport services, noting that all 16 regions are expected to have fully operational Passport Application Centres (PACs) by the end of 2025.

Touching on the clampdown on middlemen and unauthorized agents, Dr. Ablakwa disclosed that the Ministry, working with security agencies, had dismantled several illegal operations and warned that anyone caught exploiting applicants will face prosecution.

He concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to sustaining the ongoing transformation of passport services ensuring greater efficiency, security, accessibility, and affordability for every Ghanaian.