Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has declared that the long-standing frustrations associated with acquiring a passport in the country—chiefly the dominance of middlemen, popularly called goro boys, and the endless delays—are finally over.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series held at the Jubilee House, the minister touted the success of sweeping reforms in passport administration while unveiling new measures designed to expand access and further ease the process for citizens.
According to Hon. Ablakwa, the reforms are already yielding significant results. Central to this transformation is the rollout of chip-embedded passports, introduced on April 28, 2025.
Ghana, he explained, now joins the ranks of African countries that have adopted this internationally compliant travel document, which meets the highest standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The new passport, equipped with over 175 advanced security features—up from 32 in the previous version—has enhanced the credibility and global acceptance of Ghanaian travel documents.
The minister stressed that the upgrade is not merely cosmetic but essential to protecting Ghanaian travelers. “These next-generation passports drastically improve the security and international recognition of our documents,” he said, underscoring how the changes protect citizens from fraud and strengthen border control integrity.
Mobile Passport Application Service
The digital transformation agenda has gone beyond the design of passports. The ministry has expanded its mobile passport application service to cater to applicants with limited mobility.
This year, it was deployed to assist Hajj pilgrims, ensuring that those embarking on the pilgrimage could access services without difficulty. A new home delivery service, launched in partnership with courier companies, is also operational.
The minister recalled personally delivering the first batch of passports to applicants at their workplaces and homes, a symbolic gesture of “bringing government closer to the people.”
“As of 10 September 2025, a total of 161,824 chip-embedded passports have been printed, of which 122,895 have been successfully delivered to applicants”.
Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
For Hon. Ablakwa, the statistics reflect how delays that once plagued the system are being tackled head-on. “The era of passport backlogs, when over 70,000 applications waited for months, is behind us now,” he assured.
To consolidate these gains, the ministry has rolled out 24-hour passport operations. This, he noted, guarantees a maximum turnaround time of 15 days for issuance and delivery to any part of the world.
Expansion of Passport Application Centers
Plans are also underway to open additional passport application centers (PACs) to bring services closer to citizens, particularly in regions that have historically been underserved.
Currently, there are 13 PACs across nine regions, with three in Greater Accra, two each in Ashanti and Northern, and one each in Upper West, Eastern, Central, Volta, Western, and Bono regions. However, the six newly created regions remain without PACs, a gap the minister pledged to fill.
“Seven additional centers will open this year, including one in Bolgatanga, which will be fully operational in October. I know our compatriots in the Upper East have been agitating for this, and I am glad to say your suffering will be over next month.”
Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Alongside expansion, the minister announced that the government has initiated the construction of a passport head office annex, with tenders currently under evaluation. The facility is expected to further streamline services and accommodate growing demand.
The minister also addressed concerns over passport fees, announcing that the government has submitted proposals to Parliament to reduce the cost of a standard 32-page passport from GH¢500 to GH¢350.
The reduction, contained in the new Fees and Charges Bill, is awaiting parliamentary approval. “It is quite miraculous that we are seeing all these reforms, enhanced services, and yet the fees are going to go down. This is really remarkable,” he remarked.
Same-Day Passport Delivery Service
Beyond the cost reduction, a new same-day delivery service will be introduced for applicants with urgent needs, particularly businesspeople who require express processing.
“This will eliminate the dependence on middlemen. You will not need a goro boy to get a passport within a day. The era of exploitation by middlemen is gone for good,” the minister insisted.
Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Further reforms include the launch of a modernized digital application platform, a 24-hour customer call center, and streamlined process flows in partnership with the National Identification Authority. This integration allows for real-time verification of applicant details, drastically reducing fraud and expediting the process.
The minister was emphatic that the reforms represent more than efficiency gains. For him, they symbolize a decisive break from a past riddled with delays, backlogs, and corruption.
“We dare say that the goro boys are gone for good,” he said, stressing that the ministry’s reforms are designed to permanently dismantle the systems that allowed such practices to thrive.
As he concluded his address, he reassured Ghanaians that the reforms would be sustained, pointing to both the investments in infrastructure and the policy innovations already in motion.
For thousands of citizens who have long endured frustrations in acquiring one of the most essential documents of modern life, the reforms could mark the dawn of a new era—one where access to passports is defined not by connections or bribes but by efficiency, accountability, and fairness.
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