In a bid to revolutionize the passport acquisition process, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially launched a home and office passport delivery service for applicants.
This groundbreaking initiative, led by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, is part of a strategic partnership with Ghana Post and local delivery company Troskit, aiming to ensure that applicants receive their passports within 15 working days.
The new service is designed to address longstanding issues plaguing the passport acquisition process, including bureaucratic delays and interference by middlemen, commonly known as “goro boys.” Minister Ablakwa emphasized that the reform is a significant step towards eliminating these challenges.
“Ghanaian passport applicants are no longer required to go back to the passport application centre for their passports,” Ablakwa announced. “We have introduced peculiar services, making sure that passports are delivered to the comfort of the homes or offices of applicants.”
A key feature of the new service is the 24-hour operation of the passport office, aligning with President Mahama’s vision of establishing a 24-hour economy.
Ablakwa highlighted the significance of this development, stating, “The passport office, you may also have heard, is now operating 24 hours in line with President Mahama’s vision of launching Ghana into a new era of the 24-hour economy.”
To further enhance the applicant experience, the Ministry has introduced an e-tracking system, allowing individuals to monitor the progress of their passport application from submission to delivery.
Ablakwa explained, “We have also introduced e-tracking to allow passport applicants to follow the process right from application to delivery.”
The Minister emphasized that these reforms are aimed at eradicating the bottlenecks and middlemen that have long plagued the passport acquisition process.
“We are doing all these reforms to make sure that we do away with bottlenecks and end that phenomenon of goro boys middlemen taking advantage of the bureaucracy and delay in the passport acquisition process,” he added.
With the launch of the home and office passport delivery service, Ghana takes a significant step towards modernizing its passport application process, prioritizing efficiency, convenience, and transparency.