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    Ghana to roll out same-day passport delivery in major reform

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    By Abigail Kyeremah Owusu,GBC

    Copyright gbcghanaonline

    Ghana to roll out same-day passport delivery in major reform

    By Abigail Kyeremah Owusu

    Ghanaians facing emergencies, as well as members of the business community, will soon be able to obtain passports within 24 hours under a new same-day delivery service aimed at easing long-standing frustrations with passport processing.

    The new service, announced by Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, at the Jubilee House in Accra, allows applicants to receive passports within a day, with options for home or workplace delivery.

    “This reform is about convenience, speed, and restoring confidence in our passport system. We want to eliminate the bottlenecks that have made the process stressful for citizens for years,” the Minister said on Monday, September 15.

    The service will be supported by an electronic tracking system, enabling applicants to monitor the status of their applications and deliveries in real time. Officials say the move is expected to drastically reduce queues and delays at passport offices.

    Alongside the same-day delivery, the government has also cut the fee for the standard 32-page passport from GH¢500 to GH¢350, a measure the minister said was aimed at making the service more affordable to all Ghanaians.

    The reforms also include the establishment of a Passport Committee, tasked with tightening document security and strengthening safeguards against fraud. The committee will also review operations and recommend ways to simplify processing.

    For years, many Ghanaians have complained of delays, backlogs, and inconsistent service at passport offices, with some applicants waiting months to receive their travel documents. Officials believe the new measures will help rebuild public trust.

    The Foreign Affairs Ministry says it is also investing in “Premium PAC” service centers, designed to provide faster processing at an extra cost, while maintaining the standard service at reduced fees for the wider public.

    “These changes are not cosmetic,” Mr. Ablakwa stressed. “They are part of a comprehensive effort to deliver passports that are secure, affordable, and quickly accessible.”

    The reforms take immediate effect, with the ministry urging citizens to take advantage of the upgraded services.

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