The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in Ghana is contemplating a substantial increase in passport fees, aiming to raise the cost from GH¢100 to GH¢644.
The revelation was made by Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, during an interview with Graphic Online.
Minister Botchwey explained that the current fee of GH¢100 is insufficient to cover the production cost of a passport booklet, estimated at GH¢400.
Consequently, the government has to cover a deficit of GH¢300 for each passport issued, making the current pricing model unsustainable.
The proposed increase is under consideration by the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation.
Addressing Parliament before the approval of a GH¢1.127 million budget estimate for her ministry, Ayorkor Botchwey emphasized the need for a realistic pricing structure, given that passports are no longer used as primary identification documents due to the existence of national ID cards.
She urged Parliament to consider the financial strain on the government and the necessity to invest in the Passport Office.
Deputy Minister Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong supported the proposed increment, citing production costs and affordability compared to neighbouring West African countries.
He noted ongoing discussions with Parliament to finalize approved fees and highlighted the considerable difference in charges, with Ghanaians currently paying $8 compared to other countries charging around $40 for similar services.
Ampratwum-Sarpong also revealed plans to introduce chip-embedded passports in the second quarter of 2024 to enhance security in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
He emphasized that the current pricing structure, to subsidize every passport, poses challenges for the Passport Office.