The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has presented the first batch of free replacement passports to victims who lost or had their travel documents damaged during the devastating floods that hit parts of Accra on June 29, 2026.
The presentation ceremony, held on Friday, July 17, formed part of a special intervention announced by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to replace affected passports at no cost to victims.
The Minister was represented by the Ministry’s Chief Director, Ambassador Khadija Idrissu, who was joined by the Coordinating Director for Political and Economic Affairs, Ambassador Harold Adlai Agyeman; Coordinating Director for Multilateral and International Organisations, Ambassador Francis Danti Kotia; and Head of the Delivery Unit, Ambassador Alexander Grant Ntrakwa.
The initiative is aimed at supporting flood victims who lost essential travel documents and easing the financial burden associated with replacing damaged passports.
Addressing beneficiaries, Ambassador Idrissu disclosed that the Ministry received about 500 applications after inviting flood victims on July 3 to apply for free replacement passports.
She explained that all applications are undergoing verification to ensure they meet the required criteria, adding that the 100 passports presented constitute the first batch, with additional beneficiaries expected to receive theirs once the screening process is completed.
According to her, the intervention, undertaken as part of the Ministry’s corporate social responsibility initiative, reflects the government’s commitment to supporting citizens affected by the disaster.
She commended Mr Ablakwa for his leadership in initiating the exercise and praised staff of the Ministry and the Passport Office for working tirelessly to expedite the processing of applications.
Ambassador Idrissu further stressed that the initiative was inspired by the values of unity, compassion and national solidarity, assuring applicants who are yet to receive their passports that efforts are underway to complete processing and distribute the remaining batches as soon as possible.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Richmond Debrah expressed gratitude to the Minister, management and staff of the Ministry for what he described as a swift and compassionate intervention.
He noted that the floods had left many families struggling after losing valuable possessions, including passports, adding that replacing the documents individually would have imposed a significant financial burden on many victims.
Mr Debrah said the Ministry’s gesture had restored hope and peace of mind to the affected persons while demonstrating government’s commitment to the welfare of its citizens.
The Ministry says the exercise underscores its commitment to responsive public service delivery and supporting Ghanaians during periods of national emergency by ensuring affected citizens regain access to essential travel documents without incurring additional costs.
