Foreign Affairs Ministry wants passport fees increased

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration is proposing an increase in the passport fee for Ghanaians from GH¢100 to GH¢644, as disclosed by the sector minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, during an interview in Parliament on Thursday, December 14, 2023.

According to Minister Botchwey, the current fee of GH¢100 is insufficient, given that it costs GH¢400 to produce one passport booklet. This creates a deficit of GH¢300 per passport, and she emphasized that such a subsidy is unsustainable. The minister explained that this deficit in the printing of passport booklets is hindering necessary investments in the Passport Office.

Addressing the Parliament floor before the approval of a GH¢1.127 million budget estimate for her ministry, Ayorkor Botchwey urged the honorable house to consider the issue. The proposal is currently under review by the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation.

Minister Botchwey highlighted the impracticality of continuing to subsidize passports, stating that passports are primarily needed for travel, as national ID cards serve as identification. She expressed hope that Ghanaians would be willing to pay realistic prices for passports.

Regarding the backlog of passports, she mentioned plans to acquire a giant printer to expedite the process. Deputy Minister Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong justified the proposed fee increase, citing production costs and the affordability compared to other West African countries. He noted ongoing discussions with Parliament to finalize approved fees and highlighted the need for an adjustment due to the current fee of $8, which is considerably lower than neighboring countries.

Ampratwum-Sarpong also mentioned plans to introduce chip-embedded passports in the second quarter of 2024 to enhance security in accordance with ICAO standards. He emphasized the necessity of raising fees to address the financial challenges faced by the passport office.