Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced plans to transform the passport office into a 24-hour operation.
According to him, this initiative aims to drastically reduce passport processing times to just one week, addressing long-standing frustrations among applicants.
During a visit to the passport office in Accra on February 19, 2025, Ablakwa emphasized the government’s commitment to improving service delivery.
“We want to cut down the waiting time for passports. While processing times have improved to three to four weeks, we believe it should be possible to get a Ghanaian passport within a week,” he stated.
The 24-hour operation, which will run in three shifts, is expected to streamline the process and enhance efficiency.
“We want passport administration in our country to become a 24-hour operation. So, this year, you need to stand by, get ready, and prepare yourselves. We are going to run three shifts. We want to reduce the waiting time for passports,” he said.
To support this initiative, the government will expand storage facilities, data centers, and public amenities such as conference rooms at the passport headquarters.
These upgrades aim to ensure a comfortable experience for both staff and applicants while they await service.
In addition to the headquarters overhaul, Okudzeto Ablakwa revealed plans to decentralize passport services by establishing modern application centers in every region of Ghana.
“We are also rolling out a program to ensure that every region in Ghana has a decent passport application center. It should no longer be the case that if you need to undergo physical vetting, you have to travel all the way to Accra. We want to end that. It should be a thing of the past,” he declared.
This move is designed to make passport services more accessible to Ghanaians nationwide, ensuring that no one is left behind.
The announcement aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s vision of a 24-hour economy, which seeks to create jobs and improve public service efficiency.
The expanded operations are expected to triple the workforce at the passport office, providing employment opportunities while addressing backlogs and uncollected passports.
Okudzeto Ablakwa’s reforms also include the full digitalization of passport services, the integration of biometric databases, and the use of courier services to deliver passports directly to applicants.
These measures aim to eliminate redundancies and ensure a seamless experience for Ghanaians.
Watch the video below:
“We’re introducing a three-shift system to reduce passport wait times” – Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announces new measures to streamline services. #ChannelOneNews #CitiVerify pic.twitter.com/sl8jxWSGOE
— ChannelOne TV (@Channel1TVGHA) February 19, 2025
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