The recent announcement by the Foreign Affairs Ministry regarding an increase in passport application fees has stirred a wave of reactions across Ghana.
Professor Ransford Gyampo, a prominent political scientist and lecturer at the University of Ghana, is among those raising concerns about the fee hike.
While acknowledging the need for adjustments, Gyampo questions the significant magnitude of the increase.
The decision to raise fees is part of broader efforts to boost revenue and streamline administrative processes.
However, Gyampo argues that the recent hike, with fees soaring by over 500 percent, could disproportionately affect ordinary citizens, especially those from low-income backgrounds.
Speaking on TV3, Gyampo emphasised the importance of balancing revenue generation with ensuring accessibility to essential documents like passports for all citizens.
He suggested that while some increase is acceptable, a 400 percent hike, as seen in the recent revisions, may be excessive.
“I favor some increment and I believe that the good people of Ghana will appreciate that things have gone up, so we should adjust a little. We were expecting some adjustment, but the 400 percent was too much.”
Effective April 1, 2024, the revised fees include a substantial surge.
For instance, the fee for a standard 32-page passport has risen from GHC100 to GHC500, while expedited services now come with fees of GHC700 and GHC800 for the 32-page and 48-page options, respectively.
The minority faction in Parliament has also voiced discontent, indicating plans to revisit the fee adjustments once the House reconvenes from recess.