Africa-Press – Ghana. Mr. Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has announced that by December this year, every region in Ghana will have a passport application centre as part of reforms to decentralise and modernise the passport acquisition process.
He disclosed the plan at a brief ceremony in Accra where five distinguished creatives received diplomatic passports in recognition of their contribution to Ghana’s global image.
Mr. Ablakwa said the government was determined to remove the longstanding bottlenecks faced by Ghanaians in accessing passport services, especially those in regions without application centres.
Currently, seven regions, including Upper East, Upper West, North East, Oti, Bono East, Savannah and Western North, do not have dedicated facilities, forcing applicants to travel long distances to neighbouring regions.
“By December, we are going to make sure every region in Ghana has a passport application centre,” Mr. Ablakwa declared.
He said, “The first one will be commissioned this month in Bolgatanga, and this will be followed by others until all regions are covered.”
Mr Ablakwa said the reforms were designed to make the process more efficient, convenient, and less stressful for ordinary Ghanaians.
“Imagine having to travel from Bolga, Wa, or Oti to another region just to get a passport. It is costly, inconvenient, and discourages many applicants. We are determined to change this story and bring passport services closer to the people,” he explained.
The Minister highlighted the progress made so far in streamlining passport services, and said the turnaround times for issuing passports had been significantly reduced, with applicants now receiving their documents in record time compared to previous years.
“Our passport office has become very efficient. We are receiving reports from citizens across the country that the process is now smoother than ever. Many applicants are receiving their passports faster, and for those who cannot easily travel, we have introduced courier delivery directly to their homes,” Mr. Ablakwa stated.
He said the courier system had further reduced congestion at passport offices and spared applicants from the inconvenience of travelling back to collection centres.
The Minister stressed that the reforms were part of a larger effort to reposition Ghana’s passport regime as a model of efficiency in the sub-region.
He said the expansion of centres and the embrace of technology underscored the government’s commitment to public service delivery.
“Passports are not just travel documents. They are symbols of national identity, and every Ghanaian deserves equal and convenient access to them, regardless of where they live,” he noted.
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