Ghanaians who are looking to register for the Ghanaian passport in 2024 may pay at least six times the current fee. This is according to a request by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration which is currently under consideration by Parliament.
According to the sector minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the cost of printing a Ghanaian passport is three times more than what the Ministry charges Ghanaians for the document. She said the cost of printing a Ghanaian passport booklet is GH¢400, GH¢300 more than the current GH¢100 fee charged.
The Ministry is thus seeking approval from Parliament to increase the fee to GH¢644 beginning next year. Currently, before the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation, if approved Ghanaians would pay either the proposed GH¢644 or any other fee approved by the house.
“Ghanaians pay just about GH¢100 for a passport yet to produce one passport booklet costs GH¢400 which means that for every passport that an applicant acquires, the government has to put in GH¢300 and this is not sustainable,” Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey stated.
“Passports are no longer sources of identification as we all have our national ID. Therefore, anybody who needs a passport and actually applies and acquires a passport does so because they have [the] intention to travel,” she said per the Graphic.
“So, if you are going to travel or you intend to travel and you cannot pay GH¢400 then it is unfortunate because even tickets are now expensive.”
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