Desist from fraudulent passport application – Dep. Foreign Affairs Minister

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has cautioned the public to desist from engaging in fraudulent activities which undermines the integrity of Ghana's passport.

As part of measures to improve improve service delivery in the acquisition of passports government on the 1st of March announced that it will cease to operate the Manual Passport Application platform.

An official statement from the ministry explained that an Online Passport Application will now be available at all Passport Application Centres (PACs) and applicants are advised to use the new portal (passport.mfa.gov.gh) to submit their applications.

The latest arrangement is seen as an improvement of the 2018 framework which made the acquisition of Passport application forms free. Also, under the new online arrangements Premium Passport Application Centers will have the option for courier delivery.

Speaking at an official ceremony to Commission a Premium passport application center in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi, on Thursday, 5th March 2020, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammed Habib Tijani explained that setting up of the latest facility is in line with the government's determination to extend passport services to the doorstep of Ghanaians in all parts of the country while adding that "the ministry is in the process of securing office space from the Regional coordinating councils in the Upper East, Upper West and Central Regions as well as in the six newly created regions for the establishment of Passport Application Centers".

Judging from previous experiences and fraudulent activities, middlemen popularly referred to as 'Goro' Boys in procurement of Ghanaian passports, Mr Tijani took the opportunity to remind Ghanaians that the use of forged documents amongst others undermines the integrity of the passport application process.

He added that such corrupt practices are "punishable by law and persons found engaging in such activities will be made to face the full rigorous of the law".

The deputy minister also urged staff of the Ministry working at various passport application centers to continue to do more in enhancing the security and interparty of the Ghanaian passport.