The Minister of Overseas Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has introduced a big discount in the price of an peculiar 32-page passport booklet in Ghana.
In response to him, this initiative is a part of the federal government’s efforts to make passports easily accessible to Ghanaians.
Will probably be recalled that, efficient Monday, 1st April, the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, introduced an upward adjustment in utility charges for a 32-page passport booklet beneath the usual service, growing the price from GH¢100 to GH¢500.
She justified the increment by stating that the ministry had been incurring losses on the printing of passport booklets on account of unrealistic pricing.
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Nonetheless, addressing Parliament on Thursday, thirteenth March, Minister Ablakwa disclosed that the price could be diminished from GH¢500 to GH¢350, following a directive from President John Dramani Mahama.
He said:
In our efforts to make passports extra accessible to all Ghanaians, and per directions from His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, we’re happy to announce a discount in the price of the peculiar passport booklet—the 32-page booklet—from GH¢500 to GH¢350.
The minister additional revealed plans to amend the charges and costs within the coming days to mirror the discount.
Moreover, Mr Ablakwa highlighted an ongoing evaluate course of by the Passport Evaluate Committee for the rollout of chip-embedded passports.
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That evaluate is underway, and all stakeholders are assembly tomorrow to finalise the method. As soon as the contract evaluate is full, we’ll transition to the phase-out and rollout of chip-embedded passports, guaranteeing a clean transition.
The newest announcement kinds a part of the federal government’s dedication to enhancing the passport utility system within the nation.
