Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced that every region in Ghana will have a passport application centre by December 2025, as part of efforts to decentralise passport services and improve accessibility.
He disclosed that the first of the new centres would be commissioned this month in Bolgatanga, the Upper East regional capital, to kickstart the nationwide rollout.
The Minister made the announcement during a ceremony in Accra to present diplomatic passports to five distinguished Ghanaians: travel vlogger Wode Maya, Grammy-nominated reggae artist Rocky Dawuni, broadcaster and entrepreneur Anita Erskine, contemporary visual artist Ibrahim Mahama, and British-Ghanaian entrepreneur Dentaa Amoateng MBE.
Mr. Ablakwa said the Ministry’s ongoing reforms had already transformed the passport acquisition process, with applicants now receiving their passports in record time through courier services, eliminating the need for stressful trips to collection centres.
“The Foreign Affairs Ministry has become very efficient, and Ghanaians are already confirming that it is now a smooth process. They are receiving their passports in record time and do not have to stress to pick them up at passport offices, because they are being delivered via courier services,” he said.
He noted, however, that seven regions were still without application centres.
“I am delighted to announce that by December, we will make sure every region without a passport application centre has one, starting with Bolgatanga this month,” the Minister added.
The initiative is expected to reduce travel time and costs for applicants at passport centres.
