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Tag: Passport fees

  • Passport fees would not cost govt any financial loss – Foreign Affairs Minister clarifies

    Passport fees would not cost govt any financial loss – Foreign Affairs Minister clarifies

    Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced plans to reduce the cost of the 32-page passport from GHS 500 to GHS 350.

    This decision is in line with the government’s promise to review passport fees if they win the 2024 elections, following a 400% increase in charges for the 32-page booklet and other passport types in order to cover the cost of producing the passport booklets.

    Speaking in Parliament while addressing questions related to his ministry, Mr. Ablakwa explained that the fee reduction aims to ease the financial burden on Ghanaians and wouldn’t cause any financial loss to government.

    “The work we have done with our colleagues in the ministry we are confident that with the 350 cedis will not put us in any indebtedness . there will be no loss to the state, we will not be causing financial loss to the state and will not require subsidies, we will not have to subsidies.

    The quantum leap from 100 to 500 was just too draconian and it was too you could tell Ghanaian people were not happy” he added.

    He also explained that the move to reduce the price of the 32 page passport booklet is aimed at making passport easily accessbile to all Ghanaians.

    “In our effort to make passports more accessible to all Ghanaians, and per instructions I have received from His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, we are pleased to announce the reduction of the ordinary passport booklet, that is the 32-page booklet from the GH₵500 to GH₵350” he said.

    Meanwhile, passport fees were increased under the Akufo-Addo-led government on April 1, 2024. The new fees were as follows: 32-page standard passport at 500 cedis, 48-page standard passport at 644 cedis, 32-page expedited passport at 700 cedis, and 48-page expedited passport at 800 cedis.

    Following the hike in fees, there were reports of low patronage by some Ghanaians over the draconian leap in prices.

    Despite this directive facing strong opposition from dissenters including some passport applicants, agents and some stakeholders, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in a statement clarified that the decision to increase passport prices aligns with the 2023 fees regulations, L.I.2481. 

  • There is nothing Ablakwa can do about increase in passport fees – Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister

    There is nothing Ablakwa can do about increase in passport fees – Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister


    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Reintegration has firmly stated that there will be no reconsideration of the recent adjustments made to passport application fees.

    This declaration comes in response to remarks made by Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament and MP for North Tongu, who criticized the new fees as draconian and urged for their reversal.

    As of April 1, the ministry implemented an increase in application fees for passport services, establishing them at GH¢500 for a 32-page standard booklet and GH¢644 for a 48-page standard booklet.

    Furthermore, expedited services now come with fees of GH¢700 for the 32-page option and GH¢800 for the 48-page option.

    Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr. Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, reiterated that the fees would remain unchanged despite calls for a review.

    Mr. Ampratwum-Sarpong emphasized the importance of the fee adjustments for investing in and improving service delivery, asserting that any attempts to contest the decision would be unsuccessful.

    He told journalists: “With the support of the majority of Ghanaians, it has come to stay”, adding: “There is nothing he [Mr Ablakwa] can do about it. He can make his noise out there. If he wants to bring it to Parliament, we will meet him on the floor of Parliament, we will discuss it and will debate it; and at the end of the day, I can bet my last cedi he will fall flat on his face”. 

    “The reason why we are introducing this, like I said, principally, is the fact that we need to invest and improve service delivery”, he explained.

  • “Facts are the 1st victims” – Bright Simons exposes Foreign Ministry’s alleged lies about passport fees increase

    Vice President of IMANI-Africa, Bright Simons, in a thought-provoking response to recent speculation about a potential 500% increase in passport application fees, has taken to X (Twitter) to question the government’s transparency and accuracy in presenting facts when introducing policies.

    Mr Simons, reacting to a publication by Aviation Ghana.com titled “Ghana to charge GHC 500 as passport application fee?”, expressed skepticism about the government’s motives. His tweet suggested 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!”

    The article in question, reported strong indications that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration was contemplating a significant upward adjustment of passport application fees. 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.

    Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, cited in the article, reportedly 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.

    Mr Simons, however, countered these claims by pointing out discrepancies in this reasoning. 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?”

    It’s crucial to note that 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. The uncertainty surrounding the information adds an element of caution to the ongoing discussions. As citizens await official confirmation, Simons’ skepticism underscores the need for transparency and accuracy in government communications, particularly when proposing significant policy changes.

    In addition to the potential fee increase, the article also touched on the government’s plans to introduce chip-embedded passports in 2024, gradually phasing out the current biometric passports. This shift aligns with international requirements and aims to enhance security.