"Aban papa": Okudzeto Ablakwa lists 5 passport reforms effective April 28

Okudzeto Ablakwa Announces New Passport Policies Starting April 28

On Saturday, April 26, 2025, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced new passport policies. He shared six reforms in total. However, five of these will take effect on Monday, April 28, 2025. One reform requires Parliamentary approval before implementation.

Ablakwa described the changes as exciting and aimed at simplifying passport acquisition. The five new policies include:

1. Switch to chip-embedded passports.
2. 24-hour passport operations.
3. Direct passport delivery via courier.
4. An e-tracking system for applications.
5. Delivery within 15 days.

The reduction in application fees from GH¢500 to GH¢350 will not start on April 28. This change will occur after Parliament amends the Fees and Charges Act.

Reactions to the announcement varied on social media platforms like X. Some users praised the Minister for his efforts. Others expressed skepticism about acknowledging previous government initiatives.

One user thanked him for delivering on promises made earlier. Another user offered to handle delivery services in Tema and parts of Accra.

Concerns were raised by individuals who experienced delays with their applications. Many called for improvements in service delivery at passport offices.

In related news, the National Identification Authority recently announced new fees for Ghana Card registration services. First-time registration and record updates will cost GH¢310 each, while card replacements will be charged at GH¢420.