By Naomi Kommeh
The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, has announced that chip-embedded passports will be introduced in Ghana within the next six months. The Minister noted that the new passport system is in line with a directive from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in Canada.
In an interview, Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong stated that despite the introduction of the new chip-embedded passports, the current biometric passports will remain valid for some time.
He also stated that though the new chip-embedded passports will cost more, applicants will be charged the same 500 cedis as the biometric one for a standard passport.
E-passport:
An e-Passport usually contains an electronic chip that holds the same information that is printed on the passport’s data page: the holder’s name, date of birth, and other biographic information. An e-Passport also contains a biometric identifier. Ghana has been working for some time now to introduce chip-embedded passports in the second quarter of 2024, and gradually phase out the current biometric passport.
The chip-embedded passports are to be linked to national identification.
The biometric information on the chip can be used to authenticate the identity of the passport holder.