The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has asked all passport applicants who made payment for the processing of their passport applications before 1 April, 2024, but have not yet had their biometric details captured, to visit their selected Passport Application Centres (PACS) and complete the application process.
In a statement, the Ministry said passport applications that were submitted before 1st April, 2024, under the One Hundred Ghana Cedis (GH¢100.00) and One Hundred and Fifty Ghana Cedis (GH¢150.00) payment options and have not been processed would cease to be valid after 18th October, 2024.
“The Ministry counts on the cooperation of the passport applicants under reference to undertake this important exercise.”
The Ministry, on April 1, 2024, adjusted the fees for passport applications from 100 cedis to 500 cedis for the 32-page booklet and to 644 cedis for the 48-page booklet under the standard service. For those who want expedited service, they will pay 700 cedis for a 32-page booklet and 800 cedis for a 48-page booklet.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, justified the increase in passport fees, saying the move is not aimed at imposing a financial burden on Ghanaians as speculated but to provide quality service.
She said the current fee for the acquisition of a Ghanaian passport, which is 8 dollars, is the lowest in the sub-region and was affecting the operations of the passport office.
By Hannah Dadzie