Government to establish passport application centres across all regions

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced plans to establish passport application centres in all 16 regions of Ghana.

he stated that this initiative forms part of the government’s broader efforts to improve passport processing efficiency and accessibility across the country.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, 12th March, Mr Ablakwa highlighted the challenges posed by the existing centralised system, which has placed immense pressure on the Accra passport office.

He noted that long queues and extended processing times have made it difficult for many Ghanaians to obtain their travel documents in a timely manner.

The minister emphasised that decentralising passport services would ensure that citizens no longer need to travel to the capital to submit their applications.

By bringing passport application centres closer to the people, the government aims to enhance service delivery and improve the overall experience for applicants.

However, Mr Ablakwa clarified that there are no immediate plans to extend passport application centres to the district level.

He expressed confidence that regional offices would be sufficient to meet public demand, particularly when combined with recent reforms aimed at reducing processing delays.

“Our priority is to establish passport application centres in all 16 regions of Ghana. While we do not currently intend to set up district offices, we believe that the reforms we are implementing—such as 24-hour operations and improved service delivery—will ensure a more efficient process.”

“Additionally, the use of courier services will allow passports to be delivered to applicants no matter where they are within their respective regions,” he explained.

At present, the main passport application centre in Accra continues to experience a surge in demand, resulting in prolonged waiting times.

The introduction of regional offices is expected to alleviate this burden, streamline the application process, and offer a more convenient system for Ghanaians nationwide.