Ghana rolls out chip-embedded passport

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched chip-embedded passports. This rollout began on Monday, April 28, 2023. The new passport replaces the old biometric version, which will expire in 2030.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, announced this at the Passport Head Office in Accra. He highlighted that the new passport has advanced security features that prevent duplication.

Ablakwa noted that both former President Nana Addo and current President John Mahama have received their new passports. Former President John Agyekum Kufuor is scheduled to receive his later today.

He advised handling the new passport with care to avoid damage. Ablakwa assured over 70,000 applicants that their uncollected passports would be delivered free by Ghana Post upon request.

These reforms aim to simplify the passport application process in Ghana. The days of middlemen are over, thanks to an e-tracking system at the head office. This system tracks applications from registration to delivery.

The ministry has also improved delivery times for passports. Regular applicants will receive theirs within 15 days, while 'VIP' applicants can get theirs in five days for a higher fee.

Ablakwa announced that the Passport Head Office will now operate 24 hours a day starting April 28, 2025. Other offices will soon follow suit to keep up with modern demands.