By Hannah Dadzie
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has planned to implement a three-shift system at the passport office to drastically reduce passport processing times, aiming for a one-week turnaround for applications.
The sector Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, reaffirmed his commitment to modernizing the passport administration, urging staff of the passport office to prepare for extended working hours, as part of the government’s 24-hour economy initiative.
Speaking during a working visit to the Passport Head Office and Accra Passport Application Centre at Tema Station, the Minister assured staff that concerns such as workspace constraints and security for night shifts are being addressed, with provisions made in the 2025 budget to expand facilities and provide transportation for workers on late shifts.
“We want the passport administration in our country to become a 24-hour operation. So this year, you need to stand by and get ready.
Be preparing yourselves. We are going to be running three shifts. We want to cut down on the waiting time for passports. I’m told that you’ve done quite well. You’ve come up to about three weeks to four weeks these days. But we believe that within a week, it should be possible to get a Ghanaian passport when you apply for it. And the 24-hour intervention we are making will address that,” the Minister said.
“The director has already prepared a paper for the takeoff of the 24-hour services, making sure that we go fully digital. So that the backlog situation you are having where there are more than 70,000 passports that have not been paid up, as we speak, we can deal with that once and for all,” Mr Ablakwa added.
Mr Ablakwa stressed the need to collaborate with other agencies like the NIA, SSNIT, and DVLA to integrate data and improve the vetting process, enhancing security and fraud detection.
“We want to see how we integrate.This country, too many institutions are working in silos.
We are not talking to each other, not integrated and interfacing, that has to stop. Because when we do that, we can all share data, whether at NIA, at SSNIT, at DVLA, health insurance. It improves the security, and your vetting process becomes easier. So if somebody is probably having a double identity, hiding somewhere, probably at DVLA or SSNIT, with a different identity, and is coming here for passport in another name, it’s easy to detect and have that person arrested for the fraud that he wants to perpetrate. So I think that we will get it right, and I want to ask for your support. When this is done, it creates convenience not only for the Ghanaian people, but for you as well,” the Minister indicated.
“The work you do here is vital to our national identity and security. That is why we are rolling out a comprehensive reform agenda to improve operations, reduce waiting times, and ensure Ghanaians have easier access to passport services,” he stated.
Key initiatives announced by the Minister during his visit to the Passport offices include
* Digital Transformation: A move towards a fully digital application process, allowing renewals and applications to be submitted online with passport delivery via courier service.
* Regional Passport Centers: The establishment of decent passport application centers in every region to decentralize access and eliminate the need for applicants to travel to Accra.
* Headquarters Expansion: Plans to expand the Passport Head Office to address space constraints and improve facilities for staff and the public. This will include expanded storage, data centers, and comfortable waiting areas.
* Staff Welfare: The Minister assured staff that their welfare is a priority, with provisions for transportation for those working night and dawn shifts, as well as enhanced security at the office.
* Chip-Embedded Passports: The transition to chip-embedded passports, in line with ICAO standards, is expected to be rolled out soon, pending cabinet approval.
The Minister emphasised an open-door policy for staff, encouraging them to share their challenges and suggestions for improvement.
