Minister nominee for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has pledged to introduce technology-driven reforms to improve Ghana’s passport application and issuance system.
Speaking before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Friday, January 31, Mr Ablakwa stressed that the current passport regime requires urgent modernisation to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accessibility.
He acknowledged the challenges citizens face in acquiring passports, including delays, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and allegations of middlemen exploiting the system.
“The other thing that I want to reform is our passport regime. There are too many complaints about how difficult it is to get passports and to get them in good time. I have been going through some briefs, and I noticed that we have a backlog of over 70,000 passports that have not been collected. Then there are issues with the middlemen, ‘goro’ boys and all of that,” he said.
To address these concerns, he outlined a plan to leverage digital solutions to streamline processes, eliminate corruption, and improve service delivery.
Mr Ablakwa further assured the committee that under his leadership, the Foreign Affairs Ministry would implement a robust online application system, and streamline the capturing of biometric details of clients.
“I recall the former Foreign Minister, the Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, storming the passport office in frustration and saying that, ‘look, this crisis cannot continue’. I would like to use technology to reform our passport regime. I don’t think that we should still be requiring Ghanaians who have a Ghana Card to go to the passport office for their biometrics.”
