Ghana prints over 161,000 chip-embedded passports under new system

Ghana has printed 161,824 chip-embedded passports since the launch of its upgraded passport system in April 2025, with 122,895 already delivered to applicants, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, Mr Ablakwa said the figures demonstrate significant progress in overhauling Ghana’s passport administration, ending years of delays, backlogs, and corruption.

“As of 10th September 2025, a total of 161,824 chip-embedded passports had been printed, of which 122,895 have been successfully delivered to applicants,” he noted.

The new passports, introduced on 28th April 2025, feature over 175 advanced security elements, up from 32 in the previous version, meeting International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards to prevent fraud, counterfeiting and enhance Ghana’s reputation internationally.

Key reforms include:

• Home delivery service for applicants, with the Minister personally delivering the first batch.
• 24-hour passport processing system, ensuring delivery within 15 days globally.
• Expansion of Passport Application Centres: 13 centres currently across nine regions, with seven more to cover new regions and Bolgatanga in the Upper East by next month.
• Proposal to reduce passport fees from GH¢500 to GH¢350, pending Parliamentary approval.
• Plans for same-day passport issuance at a premium fee for urgent cases.
• Digital application platform, 24-hour call centre, and real-time verification with the National Identification Authority.

Mr Ablakwa emphasised that the reforms reflect the Mahama Administration’s Reset Agenda, prioritising efficiency, accountability, and fairness in public service delivery. He hailed the progress as evidence that passports are now accessible, secure, and delivered in record time.

“From printing and delivery to pricing and security, every aspect of passport administration has been transformed. The figures speak for themselves. This is the new Ghana we are building,” he said.