Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced government’s decision to reduce the cost of an ordinary passport from GH¢500 to GH¢350 in the coming days, marking a price drop of over 25%.
He said this is to make passports more affordable while maintaining high security standards.
He said “in line with the president’s directive, we are pleased to announce that the cost of the 32-page ordinary passport booklet will be reduced from GH¢500 to GH¢350,” he said.
However, he did not mention the specific date for its implementation but assured that the Ministry would soon present an amendment to the existing fees and charges for parliamentary approval.
To improve convenience, he said there would be a door-to-door passport delivery service as part of its new reforms.
In April 2024, the Ministry implemented a significant increase in passport application fees, raising the cost of a standard 32-page booklet from GH¢100 to GH¢500—a 400% hike. This followed the implementation of the 2023 Fees and Charges Regulations, L.I. 2481.
The government, then, justified the hike by citing rising operational costs and the need to enhance passport security features.
Despite the increase, many applicants have continued to face challenges, including long processing times, limited appointment slots, and reports of unofficial fees charged by middlemen.
Nonetheless, citizens are optimistic that the introduction of the 24-hour passport service would address the long waiting times and illegal collection of moneies at the passport office.
