Ghana Starts Issuing Chip-embedded Passports from Monday
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the issuance of chip-embedded passports commences on Monday.
This, the sector minister said, is part of the government’s wider reform strategy to boost security, end the era of middlemen, and enhance transparency throughout the application process.
As part of this, the Ministry noted that passport applications will be processed in 24 hours and delivered in 10 days by couriers.
It also announced that passport application fees will be reduced from GHc500 to Ghc350 with an E-tracking advantage.
This service will become effective in five days- 28th April 2025.
The Ghanaian chip-embedded passport was launched by President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in December 2024 in response to technological evolution.
The travel document has a microprocessor that embeds the holder’s biometric and photo information as well as unique security features such as an anti-fraud measure, with both latent and patent indicators to ensure unimpeachable security.
The project began in 2016 through the partnership of Biometric Travel Solutions Limited (BTS), a private Ghanaian firm.
Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor in 2022 said the introduction of the system will largely enhance the security features of Ghana’s passport in line with the standards prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Ghana introduced biometric passports in March 2010.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
