Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced significant progress in the country’s passport reform agenda, with 161,824 chip-embedded passports printed since the introduction of the new system.
Of these, 122,895 have already been delivered to applicants as of September 10, 2025.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, September 15, Mr. Ablakwa described the launch of next-generation biometric passports on April 28 as a “milestone achievement” in the Ministry’s digital transformation drive.
“These passports incorporate over 175 advanced security features, compared to 32 in the previous version, and fully meet International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards,” he said.
“This has greatly enhanced the global credibility and security of Ghanaian travel documents.”
The Minister outlined further improvements, including the introduction of a 24-hour operational system, which has cut processing time and ensured delivery within 15 days worldwide.
He also revealed the expansion of mobile passport services to reach applicants with limited mobility, starting with Hajj pilgrims, and the launch of a home delivery option in collaboration with courier companies.
“I had the honour of personally delivering the first batch of passports under this initiative to applicants at their workplaces and homes, symbolising our commitment to bringing government services closer to the people,” he added.
Mr. Ablakwa stressed that the reforms have eased long-standing delays in passport acquisition and reflect the government’s wider agenda of efficiency, inclusivity, and digital innovation in public service delivery.
Source: Adomonline
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