The Majority in Parliament has upheld the government’s recent move to raise passport fees.
They argue that subsidizing passport fees by 400 Ghana Cedis should not disproportionately benefit the 20% of Ghanaians who need passports for travel, deeming it inequitable.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration announced the fee increase, effective April 1, triggering public backlash.
Andy Appiah Kubi, MP for Asante Akim North, defended the government’s decision, stating it was justified during a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday.
“We agree that it is only about 20% of Ghanaians that need passports to travel out of the country. And therefore, looking at it from that context, the passports then become a privilege, not a right or need. So, if it is a privilege, who should bear the cost of passports? To be honest with you, within the subregion, passports in Ghana are the cheapest and indeed it is incomparable with anywhere else.”
“The most immediate cost element is from Liberia, and they are charging GH499.50, which is the equivalent of $50 for passports that span for five years…Indeed how fair will it be for only 20% of us to surcharge all of us, the 80% for what they want for their purpose of travelling? It is not fair,” he stated.