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The minority in Parliament has accused the government of causing financial loss to the state by spending $1.2 million on what they describe as an unnecessary and wasteful relaunch of Ghana’s chip-embedded biometric passport, a project they say was already completed under the previous administration.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, July 9, Deputy Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, said the relaunch served no practical purpose since the biometric passport had already been tested, secured, and launched by the Akufo-Addo government on December 2, 2024.
“The outgoing government secured supply credit, completed all testing, and formally launched the chip-embedded passport. They secured 50,000 booklets and a standing order of 200,000. This is all on record at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” Ayeh stressed.
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He said the $1.2 million could have been better used to improve passport office logistics and service delivery, which continue to be plagued by long queues, delays, and poor customer experience.
The minority also used the opportunity to revisit the controversial three-day shutdown of Ghana’s embassy in Washington, D.C., in May 2025, which they say cost the state over $38,200 in lost expedited service fees and left hundreds of Ghanaians stranded.
“By dawn, May 26, 2025, the embassy doors were closed. 437 confirmed applicants were cancelled, and at least 112 travellers missed their connecting flights due to this administrative lapse,” Ayeh said.
According to the minority, the abrupt closure was ordered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and led to severe inconvenience for Ghanaians abroad, many of whom had scheduled urgent passport renewals and travel appointments.
The caucus is now demanding a full audit report on both incidents—the passport relaunch and the embassy shutdown—and has called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to compensate affected individuals, particularly those who suffered financial losses and travel disruptions due to the embassy’s closure.
“These are not isolated issues,” Ayeh added. “They reflect a disturbing pattern of waste, poor planning, and disregard for citizens’ welfare.”
He urged Parliament to take steps to hold the ministry accountable, arguing that the misuse of public funds and mismanagement of diplomatic missions should not go unchecked.
Ghana’s new chip-embedded biometric passport is designed to enhance security, meet international travel standards, and speed up identity verification at immigration checkpoints.
Under the Akufo-Addo administration, the system was reportedly launched in December 2024 with an initial stock of 50,000 booklets and a standing order of 200,000 additional passports, funded via a supply credit agreement.
Critics of the recent relaunch argue that no technical upgrades or new features were introduced, rendering the $1.2 million relaunch event redundant.
As of now, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is yet to publicly respond to the allegations or confirm whether an audit will be undertaken.
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