30% passport fee cut won’t affect govt's finances –Ablakwa
30% passport fee cut won’t affect govt's finances –Ablakwa
30% passport fee cut won’t affect govt's finances –Ablakwa
By: Abigail | 2 mins read
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced plans to reduce the cost of the 32-page passport from GH₵500 to GH₵350, repesenting a 30% cut.
This decision is in line with the government's promise to review passport fees if they win the 2024 elections, following a 400% increase in charges for the 32-page booklet and other passport types in order to cover the cost of producing the passport booklets.
Speaking in Parliament while addressing questions related to his ministry, Mr. Ablakwa explained that the fee reduction aims to ease the financial burden on Ghanaians and wouldn't cause any financial loss to the government.
“The work we have done with our colleagues in the ministry, we are confident that the 350 cedis will not put us in any indebtedness. There will be no loss to the state; we will not be causing financial loss to the state and will not require subsidies; we will not have to subsidies.
The quantum leap from 100 to 500 was just too draconian, and it was too you could tell Ghanaian people were not happy,” he added.
He also explained that the move to reduce the price of the 32-page passport booklet is aimed at making passports easily accessible to all Ghanaians.
“In our effort to make passports more accessible to all Ghanaians, and per instructions I have received from His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, we are pleased to announce the reduction of the ordinary passport booklet, that is the 32-page booklet from the GH₵500 to GH₵350,” he said.
Meanwhile, passport fees were increased under the Akufo-Addo-led government on April 1, 2024. The new fees were as follows: 32-page standard passport at 500 cedis, 48-page standard passport at 644 cedis, 32-page expedited passport at 700 cedis, and 48-page expedited passport at 800 cedis.
Following the hike in fees, there were reports of low patronage by some Ghanaians over the dramatic leap in prices.
Despite this directive facing strong opposition from dissenters, including some passport applicants, agents, and some stakeholders, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in a statement that the decision to increase passport prices aligns with the 2023 fees regulations, L.I. 2481.
