Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana’s minister of foreign affairs, says the country’s passport application fees are excessively high and that many Ghanaians are financially burdened by them. As a result, he promised to review the pricing system.
According to him, a passport is a basic right, not an extravagance, so “we need to make sure that everyone can afford it”.
The situation is concerning and needs to be addressed, Ablakwa, who is also the Member of Parliament for the North Tongu Constituency, said.
Under his direction at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, he has promised the public that resolving the exorbitant fees would be a top priority.
“Many Ghanaians, especially students and low-income earners, struggle to afford passports. This should not be the case, and we must find a way to ease the financial burden,” he added.
He said, in order to find areas where changes could be made without sacrificing service quality, a thorough analysis of the cost structure would be carried out.
“We will examine operational costs, explore potential subsidies, and find ways to make passport acquisition more affordable while maintaining efficiency”
Additionally, Ablakwa emphasized the value of digitization in cutting down on administrative costs and enhancing service provision.
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Ghanaians were reassured by the Foreign Affairs Minister that his ministry would give accessibility and affordability top priority when it comes to passport services.
In order to make sure that any reforms represent the needs of the people, he urged stakeholder consultations and public engagement.
“My goal is to make passports more accessible to all citizens, regardless of their financial status,” he concluded.
