Abu Jinapor: Chip-embedded passport was fully executed by Akufo-Addo gov’t

Samuel A. Jinapor, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, has made a clarification. He stated that Ghana's chip-embedded passport rollout is not a current government initiative. Instead, it resulted from years of planning under the previous Akufo-Addo administration.

In a press release dated May 6, 2025, Jinapor outlined the timeline for this project. He described recent attempts to re-launch it as “unnecessary” and misleading. He emphasized that all aspects of the program were completed by the Akufo-Addo Government before January 7, 2025.

Jinapor explained that the project originated from the 2013 ICAO TRIP Strategy. This strategy encouraged countries to adopt electronic travel documents. While discussions began earlier, it was under Akufo-Addo in 2017 that significant progress was made.

He detailed how Biometric Travel Solutions Limited was formed through a competitive selection process. This partnership involved 25th Century Technology Limited and Buck Press Limited. The Public-Private Partnership model helped reduce costs for the government.

The chip-embedded passports were officially launched on December 2, 2024, by then-President Akufo-Addo. High-ranking officials received the first batch of passports at that time. There were already 50,000 booklets in stock and an additional order for 200,000 more.

Jinapor credited the hard work of the Akufo-Addo Government for this achievement. He urged the current government to focus on effective distribution instead of claiming credit for it. He criticized what he called a “purported re-launch” as an unnecessary burden on taxpayers.

The Minority Caucus on the Foreign Affairs Committee remains committed to defending national interests and ensuring accurate records are maintained.