Government Introduces Same-Day Passport Service, 70,000 Application Backlog Cleared

Government has introduced same-day emergency passport services as part of a major overhaul that has eliminated a backlog of over 70,000 applications.

A passport fee reduction from 500 to 350 Ghana cedis for the 32-page booklet also awaits parliamentary approval through the new fees and charges bill.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced at the government accountability series on Monday.

He noted that the the ministry for foreign affairs has successfully rolled out chip-embedded passports on April 28, 2025, positioning Ghana among African countries to implement this internationally compliant travel document. 

The new passports feature over 175 advanced security features, up from 32 in the previous version, and meet international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

He said the enhanced security features have drastically improved the credibility and security of Ghanaian travel documents on the global stage. As of September 10, 2025, a total of 161,824 chip-embedded passports have been printed, with 122,895 successfully delivered to applicants.

“It’s quite miraculous that we are seeing all these reforms, these enhanced services, and yet the fees are going to go down. This is really remarkable,” the Minister said. 

The bill is expected to pass when Parliament resumes session, requiring a 21-day waiting period before coming into force.

Beyond fee cuts, the ministry has introduced a same-day passport delivery service for emergencies and business community members requiring super express service. 

“You can obtain a passport in a day without going through a middleman or a girl boy, as they are infamously called,” Mr Ablakwa said, referring to notorious passport touts who previously exploited applicants during lengthy delays.

The ministry launched a passport home delivery system in partnership with two courier companies, with Ablakwa personally delivering the first batch to applicants at their workplaces and homes. 

The service also enhanced mobile passport applications to support applicants with limited mobility, starting with specialized deployment to assist elderly groups.

Mr Ablakwa added that reforms have addressed processing delays through 24-hour passport operations, ensuring delivery within 15 days to any part of the world. 

He disclosed that the ministry operates 13 passport application centres across nine regions, with three in Greater Accra, two each in Ashanti and Northern regions, and one each in Upper West, Eastern, Central, Volta, Western, and Bono regions.

Seven additional centres will open to cover six new regions and Bolgatanga in the Upper East region. 

“I know our compatriots in the Upper East have been agitating for this, and I’m glad that next month your suffering will be over,” the Minister said, promising to personally open the Bolgatanga centre in October.

The ministry has also instituted a modernized digital application platform, established a 24-hour customer call centre, and streamlined processes in partnership with the National Identification Authority. 

This enables real-time cross-verification, reducing fraud and expediting processing.

Looking ahead, the ministry has introduced a five-day visa processing policy at missions abroad, with e-visas to be introduced in 2026. 

The minister declared that the era of passport backlogs, months-long waits, and exploitation by touts “are all behind us now” and “gone for good.”

The ministry has received tenders for the passport head office annex building project and is currently evaluating them as part of ongoing infrastructure improvements to support the enhanced services.

Richard Aniagyei, ISD