The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, James Gyakye Quayson, has commissioned a new Passport Application Centre in Sehwi Wiawso in the Western North Region, a move aimed at bringing passport services closer to residents and easing the challenges associated with travel document acquisition.
The new facility is expected to serve applicants from Sehwi Wiawso and neighbouring districts, reducing the need for residents to travel to Accra, Kumasi or Takoradi to apply for passports.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Mr. Gyakye Quayson said the government remains committed to decentralising passport services to improve efficiency, decongest existing centres and ensure faster processing of applications.
He noted that the Sehwi Wiawso centre forms part of broader efforts to modernise passport administration and make public services more accessible to citizens across the country.
The Deputy Minister urged residents to take full advantage of the facility and strictly follow established procedures, stressing that doing so would help curb the activities of middlemen and touts.
The Western North Regional Minister, Petty Brentum, together with traditional leaders, Municipal and District Chief Executives, and security agencies present at the event, welcomed the initiative, describing it as timely and beneficial, particularly for traders, students and residents who frequently require travel documents.
They also encouraged the public to patronise the centre under fair and transparent conditions, without resorting to bribery or corrupt practices.
The Sehwi Wiawso Passport Application Centre is fully equipped to receive and process applications and is expected to significantly reduce delays and inconvenience associated with passport acquisition in the Western North Region.
