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 an event in Accra. He highlighted that the new passport has advanced security features. These features make it nearly impossible to duplicate.

Ablakwa noted that the new passport meets ICAO standards. Both former President Nana Addo and current President John Mahama have received theirs. 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 relying on middlemen are over. An e-tracking dashboard now allows applicants to track their registration online.

Regular applicants can expect delivery within 15 days. VIP applicants will receive theirs in five days for a higher fee than GH¢350. This fee is pending approval from Parliament.

Ablakwa also announced that the Passport Head Office will operate 24 hours starting April 28, 2025. Other offices will soon follow suit to meet modern demands.