Officials at Ghana’s passport application centers will soon implement a three-shift system as part of plans to introduce a 24-hour passport application service. Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed this initiative during a meeting last Wednesday with foreign service officials, outlining an extensive plan to overhaul the current passport regime, which is burdened by a backlog of applications awaiting processing.
“You’ve also heard about our major reform. We want the passport administration in our country to operate 24 hours a day. This year, you need to be prepared as we will be running three shifts. We aim to reduce the waiting time for passport applications,” Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa stated.
He added that the necessary logistical and financial arrangements would be made to increase capacity at passport application centers across the country.
During his vetting for the ministerial position last month, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa highlighted the severe challenges facing Ghana’s passport issuance system, including a backlog of over 70,000 uncollected passports.
As part of his proposed solution to address the issues within the passport regime, the Minister, on his first official visit to selected application centers in Accra, revealed that a range of measures, including the 24-hour shift system, would be implemented.
Credit: Joy online