Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has asked staff at the Passport Office to brace-up for a 24-hour work schedule as part of the government’s plan to implement a 24-hour economy policy.
Speaking at the Passport headquarters in Accra, Ablakwa stressed the need for faster passport processing, stating that applicants should be able to receive their passports within a week of application.
“We want the passport administration in our country to become a 24-hour operation. So this year, you need to stand by, get ready, and be prepared—we are going to be running three shifts. We want to cut down on the waiting time for passports,” he announced.
The minister further revealed plans to introduce chip-embedded passports and integrate passport data with the National Identification Authority (NIA) system to streamline the identification process.
To ensure affordability, Ablakwa disclosed that steps are being taken to reduce passport fees for ordinary applicants while adjusting fees upwards for premium applicants.
He assured Passport Office workers of his commitment to transforming the Foreign Affairs Ministry and making Ghana’s passport issuance system more efficient and accessible.
Credit to channel1news
