Commentary

Ghana Revolutionizes Passport Acquisition With Chip-Embedded Passports

Ghana has joined over 140 countries worldwide in issuing ePassports with embedded chips, marking a significant milestone in the country’s passport administration. The mass rollout of chip-embedded passports, which began on April 28 is designed to modernize passport acquisition, enhance security, and provide citizens with a better and enhanced international travel document. The long journey of modernity and efficiency in passport administration has been given a real definition and meaning. There were attempts in the past to introduce the enhanced passport book but it took the fortitude and resilience of the current Foreign Minister to bring it to fruition. Ghana, per International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO requirement, has up to 2030 to fully change all passports to make them chip-embedded.

And for the country to be a part of the handful of countries operating the chip embedded document makes it unique in its travel arrangements. The benefits of the chip-embedded passports include it’s superior security inputs, making them almost impossible to fake. In addition, regular applications will be handled in 15 working days, while expedited services will take only 5 working days. What’s more, the Passport Office will operate 24/7, and applicants can track the status of their applications through an e-tracking system. Moreover, Government has approved a reduction in application fees from 500 Ghana cedis to 350 Cedis. The new passports meet the International Civil Aviation Organization’s, ICAO requirements, with Ghana joining the growing list of countries issuing ePassports.

The Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa was clear in his mind, during the launch in Accra, that the introduction of the chip-embedded passports symbolizes a reset and ushers in a new era of modernization, convenience, and respect for Ghanaian citizens. With the rollout of the chip-embedded passports, Ghana is poised to enhance the security and efficiency of its passport administration, making it easier for citizens to travel and conduct international business. It is refreshing that Ghanaian citizens domiciled outside have the strongest assurance from the Minister that henceforth they do not have to come home for a new passport, if the old one expires. Again, the assurances that the acquisition of passports must not be more than 15 working days, if all the proper documents are presented, will help in cutting the long waiting times that one has to endure before acquiring a passport. FOR NOW, we say kudos to the Foreign Minister and his team for how fast they have succeeded in this exercise. We equally asks Ghanaians to keep close watch over the new passport and trust the system to deliver. There is also need to support government to weed out persons who will take advantage of the introduction of this new passport to ‘clone’ their own document to dupe the unsuspecting public. When we all make the new passport work to the benefit of the travelling public, we all take the credit and enhance the Country’s standing in international diplomatic circles.