The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has introduced a special initiative to ease passport processing for Ghanaian Hajj pilgrims, with a fixed fee of GH¢500 for expedited applications.

Announcing the measure at the Hajj Village on Tuesday, March 4, Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa stated that a dedicated passport centre has been established to streamline applications for pilgrims. The facility will operate from March 4 to March 13, 2025.

“We are not oblivious of the fact that for many, securing travel documents in a timely manner has been a major challenge. To address this, our ministry has set up this special passport centre, operational from March 4 to March 13, 2025, exclusively to serve Hajj applicants,” Ablakwa said.

He emphasized that this initiative reflects President John Dramani Mahama’s dedication to making government services more accessible and efficient for all citizens, including those preparing for the sacred journey to Mecca.

To further support the process, the government has maintained the cost of expedited passport processing at GH¢500 to ensure affordability for applicants.

“In collaboration with the government, we are pleased to announce that the cost of expedited passport processing has maintained to usual ¢500 flat rate,” he stated.

Beyond the dedicated passport centre in Accra, the Foreign Ministry is extending services to regional passport offices by setting up kiosks to assist Hajj applicants across the country.

“To extend this service to as many people as possible, we are also setting up dedicated kiosks at various regional passport application centres, ensuring that applicants outside Accra can also benefit from this initiative,” Ablakwa added.

The intervention has been widely praised by the Muslim community, with many commending the government for making travel preparations easier.

Meanwhile, President Mahama has confirmed that arrangements are in place to transport 5,000 Ghanaian Muslims to Mecca this year. The 2025 Hajj pilgrimage is expected to take place between June 4 and June 9, depending on the sighting of the moon.