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The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has highlighted major reforms and security upgrades to Ghana’s passport system, describing the document as one of the most modern, secure and globally valuable passports in the world.
In a post on X, the foreign affairs minister said Ghana has welcomed the growing attention and discussions across international media platforms regarding the country’s passport, stressing that recent improvements have significantly elevated its global standing.
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According to Mr Ablakwa, Ghana now issues the most modern ICAO-compliant, chip-embedded passport, designed to meet the highest international standards. He disclosed that the passport comes with over 170 advanced, gold-standard security features, making it extremely difficult to forge or manipulate.
Beyond security, the minister noted that the Ghanaian passport is empirically one of the most valuable globally, granting holders access to about 50 visa waivers across all continents, with more agreements expected to be signed this year.
For the first time in the country’s history, Mr Ablakwa revealed that passport application and issuance services are now available in all 16 regions, eliminating the need for applicants to travel long distances to access the service.
He further announced that passport processing time has been reduced to less than 15 days, with a historic same-day application and delivery service also introduced to improve convenience.
As part of service delivery reforms, Mr Ablakwa said passports are now delivered free of charge via courier to applicants wherever they are located, marking a significant shift from previous practices.
In a move aimed at affordability, the minister disclosed that passport fees have been reduced by 30 per cent—from GHS500 to GHS350—despite the transition from biometric passports to modern chip-embedded documents and the improvement in service delivery.
He also revealed that the ministry has cleared over 40,000 undelivered passport backlogs inherited in 2025, restoring efficiency and public confidence in the passport administration system.
To further strengthen the process, Mr Ablakwa said investments in technology and artificial intelligence tools have been deployed to enhance security and safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s passport system.
He assured Ghanaians that holders of Ghanaian passports enjoy special privileges, including the full protection of the Government of Ghana and enhanced consular services abroad.
Mr Ablakwa concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to modernisation, security, affordability and global mobility, noting that Ghana’s passport reforms reflect a broader vision to serve citizens better while strengthening the country’s international standing.
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