The Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has raised passport application fees, sparking extensive discussions among citizens and politicians.
Andy Appiah Kubi, Member of Parliament for the Asante Akim North Constituency and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, has clarified that the fee hike is necessary due to the substantial costs involved in printing the passport booklet.
He emphasized that the equipment used for passport production, including picture and name insertion, is owned by a private entity, contributing to delays in the passport acquisition process due to equipment shortages.
The committee chair emphasized that the ministry aims to procure its own equipment once the new fees are approved, which would expedite the process and put an end to the activities of “Goro Boys.”
This decision follows a proposal by Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, before the Parliament’s Committee on Subsidiary Legislation last December to review passport application charges.
Under the new adjustment, a standard 32-page passport will cost 500 cedis, up from 100 cedis, while a 48-page booklet will be priced at 644 cedis, previously 200 cedis.