A publication by Aviation Ghana.com suggests that Ghana is lacing its boots to increase its passport fees from $8 (about GHC100) to $40 (about GHC500).
Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, cited in the article shared by IMANI-Africa Vice President Bright Simons, is said to have justified the potential fee hike, claiming that the current fees are insufficient to cover the expenses of procuring, processing, and issuing passports.
He emphasized that Ghana’s passport is heavily subsidized, being the cheapest in the West African sub-region.
“Our passport happens to be the cheapest in the whole West African Sub-region. Ghana passport cost 8 dollars, the next cheapest is Liberia [which charges] 40 dollars. The supplier of the Liberian and Ghanaian passport booklet is the same company. So our passport is heavily subsidized. The money that we are supposed to use to buy the computers and the printers to be able to provide quick service delivery is being used to subsidized the passport that people apply for, ” he is quoted to have said.
The proposed fee increase, as reported by Aviation Ghana.com, is yet to be officially confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
Presently, regular service costs GHC 100 (US$8), while expedited service is GHC 150 (US$13). The speculated proposal hints at a potential increase from US$8 to US$40.
Meanwhile, Vice President of IMANI-Africa, Bright Simons, has taken to X (Twitter) to question the government’s transparency and accuracy in presenting facts when introducing policies.
Mr Simons believes that government officials might be manipulating facts to support their agenda, stating, “Anytime Ghanaian govt officials want to push a policy, the facts are the 1st victims!”
He highlighted the importance of presenting accurate figures and questioned whether officials should give citizens a basis for mistrust by citing potentially false information.
“Foreign Ministry wants to increase passport fees by 500%. Excuse is that Ghana’s fees are the cheapest in the region. Dep Minister cites a string of wrong facts to push agenda. A. Nigeria charges ~$11/$18 for 32-page booklet & $25 for 64-page booklet (official exch rate; lower for market rate). B. Gambia charges $14.5 for 64-page booklet C. Ghana charges $8 for 32-page booklet & $12.5 for 64-page (standard) BUT $12.5/32-page & $16.5/64-page EXPEDITED, he wrote.
He added, “In short, depending on the size & mode of application (standard/expedited), Ghanaian passports can be more expensive than other countries’. Ghanaian passports may well be cheap comparatively. But should Officials give citizens a basis for mistrust by citing false figures?”