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Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has said that the Passport Office will start offering its employees day, night, and morning shifts.
Speaking at the passport offices in Accra, Ablakwa emphasized that one of the main objectives of the reform is for applicants to have their passports within a week of submitting their applications.
“We want the passport administration in our country to become a 24-hour operation. This year, you need to stand and get ready, prepare yourselves. We are going to run three shifts. We want to cut down on the waiting time for passports,” Following a tour of the facility, Ablakwa stated.
“We believe that within a week, it should be possible to get a Ghanaian passport when you apply for it. The 24-hour economy intervention we are making will address that,” he said.
The action is a component of the government’s 24-hour economy strategy, which seeks to increase the effectiveness of public services and generate jobs.
The government intends to enlarge data centers, storage facilities, and public amenities at the passport headquarters in order to support this endeavor.
In order to expedite applicant verification, Ablakwa also disclosed plans to use chip-embedded passports and link passport data with the National Identification Authority system. He also informed the media that plans were in motion to update passport fees, which would raise rates for premium services while decreasing expenses for regular applications.
“The announcement is a significant step towards modernising Ghana’s administrative services and reinforcing the country’s commitment to a more efficient, tech-driven, and accessible public sector,” Ablakwa added.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
