Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has paid a surprise midnight visit to the headquarters of the Passport Office in Accra to evaluate the newly introduced 24-hour chip-embedded passport production system.
The around-the-clock operation, launched on April 28, 2025, aims to clear a backlog of applications and improve the delivery of passport services in Ghana.
In a post on Facebook on Saturday, May 24, 2025, Mr Ablakwa said: “Earlier this week, I paid a surprise visit to the passport head office at midnight to check on our new 24-hour chip-embedded passport printing operations.”
He revealed that more than 31,900 chip-embedded passports had been printed since the start of the new system.
During the visit, the minister commended the night-shift staff for what he described as their dedication and patriotism.
“I commend my hardworking and patriotic staff for their impressive work ethic. For many years, passport applicants in Ghana have experienced long delays, with some waiting months to receive their documents,” he wrote.
He added that the new system is expected to reduce pressure on the service and significantly improve processing times.
The minister ended his statement with: “The RESET is on. We shall not disappoint the good people of Ghana. For God and Country,” accompanied by an image of the national flag.
The new chip-embedded passports are designed to enhance document security and meet international standards for biometric travel documents. The government says the upgrade will improve global acceptance of Ghanaian passports and strengthen the country’s border security systems.
Source: Franklin Asare-Donkoh/GBC
