The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced a 30% reduction in passport application fees, bringing the cost down from 500 GHS to 350 GHS to make obtaining a passport more accessible for all Ghanaians.
Addressing the media on Wednesday in Accra, the minister stated that the reduction in passport application fees, aims to ensure that all Ghanaians can obtain a passport without financial burden, while maintaining the quality and security of the passports despite the fee decrease.
He said in addition to the fee reduction, there has been a remarkable progress since the rollout of the new passport initiative on April 28, 2025 because 215,000 Ghanaians have successfully received their new passports across all 16 regions.
“This represents a major achievement in our efforts to provide affordable and secure travel documents,” he added.
The Minister also commended the success of the courier delivery system, which now ensures that passports are delivered directly to Ghanaians’ doorsteps at no extra charge.
“Thanks to Ghana Post and Shark Express, we have been able to streamline this process,” he added.
Mr. Ablakwa expressed pride in the reforms, noting that all backlogs of over 40,000 applications have been resolved.
“We have kept our promise to ensure an average processing time of under 15 days for ordinary applications,” he affirmed, revealing that expedited applications now take less than a week.
He announced that a new one-day passport service is set to launch soon which will help those facing emergencies, ensuring that bureaucratic delays do not leave anyone stranded in an effort to cater for urgent need.
He urged Ghanaians to take advantage of the simplified online application process. “Applying for a passport has never been easier. You don’t need a middleman or a ‘Goro Boy’ to assist you,” he said, referring to illegal practices that previously plagued the system.
The minister assured that passport application centers will be established in every region by the end of the year.
He said all Ghanaians deserve convenient access to their passports, regardless of their location, and encouraged citizens to engage with and support the ongoing reforms.
The Ministry remains committed to maintaining the integrity of the passport application process as travel increases with the approach of international events.
Deborah Narkie Nartey, ISD
