The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP), has toured the Passport Office Headquarters at Ridge and the Accra Regional Passport Application Center (Accra PAC).
At both Offices, the Minister was given an in-depth tour of the facilities, where he was introduced to the various stages of the passport processing system, including the latest advancement in chip-embedded passport technology.
The Minister took the opportunity to interact with the staff. He, on behalf of His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama expressed appreciation for their dedication and service.
As part of his commitment to improving service delivery, the Minister outlined plans to introduce a 3-schedule shift system to clear the existing backlog of passport applications.
He also hinted at an increase in staff strength at the passport offices, upgrade and better equip the place to meet the growing demand.
Hon. Ablakwa further informed of an expansion of the office facilities, improved security, and enhanced transportation options, all aimed at ensuring staff productivity and efficiency.
In a bid to make passport services more accessible, Hon. Ablakwa announced that the government was exploring ways to subsidize the cost of obtaining a standard 32-page ordinary passport.
Additionally, he revealed plans to introduce premium passport services at a relatively higher cost, designed to offer faster processing time for those with urgent travel needs.
Addressing the passport processing timeline, the Minister stated that while the current duration had already been reduced to four weeks, efforts would be made to shorten it further, aiming for a one-week turnaround in the near future.
