Samuel Jinapor says government’s re-launch of chip-embedded passport was 'waste of public funds'

Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, a member of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, has criticized the government's re-launch of the chip-embedded passport project.

The former Lands Minister called it wasteful and politically motivated. He believes it aims to take credit for a legacy project from the previous administration.

In a statement for the Minority Caucus, Jinapor expressed concern over the government's attempt to mislead Ghanaians about the passport program's origins. He stated, “This re-launch is entirely unnecessary and serves no functional purpose.”

Jinapor described it as a drain on public funds. He accused the government of trying to hijack a project that was fully executed by the Akufo-Addo Government before leaving office in January 2025.

He noted that the digital passport project was officially launched on December 2, 2024. At that time, then-President Akufo-Addo and other officials received their chip-embedded passports.

Fifty thousand passport booklets were already stocked, with another 200,000 on order. All procurement and planning were completed under the previous administration.

“This was not just an idea; it was a fully developed project,” he said. “To repackage it as new is disingenuous and insults Ghanaians.”

Jinapor explained that upgrading Ghana’s biometric passport system began in response to a 2013 strategy by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The initiative gained traction after Akufo-Addo took office in 2017.

The government partnered with 25th Century Technology Limited and Buck Press through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). This partnership formed Biometric Travel Solutions Limited to implement the project without burdening taxpayers.

Jinapor questioned the motive behind the April 28, 2025 re-launch. He accused the Foreign Affairs Ministry of staging a PR stunt instead of providing real value to citizens.

“At this time, we should focus on efficiently rolling out the passport system,” he said. “Instead, we have an empty ceremony that drains public funds.”

He urged the government to stop these theatrics and address logistical challenges facing the system. The priority should be operational improvements rather than celebrations.

The Minority Caucus remains committed to protecting public funds and institutional integrity. They vow to expose any attempts to misappropriate completed projects' legacies.