The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in Ghana has put forth a proposal to raise the passport acquisition fee from GH¢100 to GH¢644.
Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Sector Minister, addressed Parliament, highlighting the pressing need for the adjustment due to a deficit in passport booklet printing.
She explained that the current fee of GH¢100 per passport is insufficient to cover the production cost, which amounts to GH¢400 for each passport booklet.
This results in a substantial deficit of GH¢300 for every passport issued, making it financially unsustainable for the government.
Addressing Parliament, Madam Ayorkor Botchwey emphasized the importance of realistic pricing, stating, “Ghanaians will pay realistic prices for passports.”
She urged the House to consider the proposal, currently under review by the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation.
The Minister pointed out that passports primarily serve those who require them for travel, as national ID cards fulfil identification purposes.
She argued against continued subsidies, stressing the need for financial sustainability.
The Committee on Foreign Affairs presented a report on the 2024 budget estimates, highlighting a comparison of Ghana’s passport fees with those of other West African countries.
Ghana’s current rate of $7.7 was reported as the lowest in the sub-region, with countries like Cameroon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria charging significantly higher fees.
To address the backlog of passports, Minister Botchwey revealed plans to acquire a giant printer to expedite the processing of applications.
Additionally, Mr. Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, justified the proposed fee increase by citing production costs and the need for alignment with regional standards.
Mr. Ampratwum-Sarpong noted ongoing discussions with Parliament to finalize the approved fees, expressing concern about the disparity between Ghana’s low fee of $8 and the charges imposed by neighbouring countries, which range from $40 to $180.
He disclosed plans to introduce chip-embedded passports in the second quarter of 2024 to enhance security in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards.
“Liberia charges $50, we charge $8, meaning we have to subsidize every passport. So the money to buy the printers is used to subsidize the passports.
“Also, we are thinking of upgrading our passport from biometric to chip-embedded. So the chip-embedded version is going to cost more. If we continue charging $8, we will continue to face the problems that we are having at the passport office… So we have to raise the fees,” he added.
Source: thecustodiangonline.com
