In early October, Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa reiterated his commitment to establishing a passport office in each of the sixteen regions nationwide.

At a commissioning ceremony for the Damango Passport Application Centre, held on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, the Minister confirmed that the government has kept to its word. Currently, each region has a passport office.

The ceremony marks a significant milestone in the government’s decentralisation agenda, aimed at expanding access to essential public services and easing the burden on citizens who previously had to travel long distances to apply for passports.

Taunting his office’s efforts in establishing passport centres in the rest of the seven regions, which had no office, he highlighted that the Ministry deliberately worked towards ensuring that all regional capitals had fully operational centres before the end of 2025.

“When I assumed office, only nine regions had passport application centres. Today, with the commissioning of this centre, we have fulfilled the government’s pledge to establish passport offices in all 16 regional capitals, ensuring that no Ghanaian has to travel long distances to access this essential service.

“In pursuit of this vision, application centres were successfully opened in Bolgatanga, Dambai, Techiman, Damongo, Goaso, Nalerigu and Sefwi-Wiawso within the year,” the Minister noted.

The North Tongu Member of Parliament also mentioned some stringent reforms that were currently underway to protect the integrity of Ghana’s passport.

According to him, strict verification processes will be enforced to ensure that only eligible Ghanaian citizens are issued the travel document.

In reaction to the Minister’s words, the Paramount Chief of the Gonja Traditional Area, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, lauded the government's efforts in fulfilling its promise, describing the initiative as timely and impactful.

Savannah Regional Minister, Isifu Salisu Bi-Awurobe, pledged his administration’s support to ensure the smooth operation of the Damongo centre.

He further announced plans to allocate a two-acre parcel of land for the construction of a permanent passport office in the region.

Representing the Savannah Parliamentary Caucus, the Member of Parliament for Salaga South, Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimah, expressed optimism that the facility would significantly reduce the challenges residents previously faced in accessing passport services outside the region.

The event drew service commanders, traditional and religious leaders, as well as residents from across the Savannah Region.

Earlier in the day, the Foreign Affairs Minister paid a courtesy call on the Yagbonwura at the Jakpa Palace, where he briefed the Overlord on the government’s passport reforms and decentralisation efforts.

The commissioning of the Damango passport office comes just a few months after he reiterated his commitment to establishing new centres nationwide.

Speaking at the ceremony organised to hand over diplomatic passports to five distinguished Ghanaians, the Minister disclosed that,

“But we still have seven regions without passport application centres. I am delighted to announce that by December, we will make sure every region without a passport application centre has one, starting with Bolgatanga this month,” he said.

He revealed that the first of the new centres will be commissioned this month in Bolgatanga, as part of efforts to decentralise passport services and improve accessibility across the country.

The Minister disclosed during a ceremony to hand over diplomatic passports to five distinguished Ghanaians: travel vlogger Wode Maya, Grammy-nominated reggae artist Rocky Dawuni, broadcaster and entrepreneur Anita Erskine, contemporary visual artist Ibrahim Mahama, and British-Ghanaian entrepreneur Dentaa Amoateng MBE.

Mr Ablakwa noted that ongoing reforms within the Foreign Affairs Ministry have already transformed the passport acquisition process, with applicants now receiving their passports in record time through courier services, eliminating the need for stressful trips to collection centres.

“The Foreign Affairs Ministry has become very efficient, and Ghanaians are already confirming that now it is a smooth process. They are receiving their passports in record time and do not have to stress to pick them up at passport offices, because they are being delivered via courier services", he noted.

Meanwhile, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced that beginning Thursday, November 13, ordinary Ghanaian passport fees will now be sold at GHC350 from GHC500.

The Minister made the announcement on Sunday, November 9, stating, “New Passport Application Fee of GHS350 (a 30% reduction) comes into effect this Thursday, November 13, 2025. For God and Country”.

According to the government, the decrease is to ensure citizens have access to essential public services, as well as to ease the financial burden on citizens. The reduction represents a more than 25% decrease.

Appearing before the floor of Parliament in March, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa noted, “The government recognises concerns about the affordability of the new passport and is committed to ensuring that the cost remains reasonable while maintaining high security standards".

In our effort to make passports more accessible to all Ghanaians, and per the instruction I have received from the president, we are pleased to announce that the cost of the ordinary passport booklet, the 32-page, will be reduced from GH¢500 to GH¢350. We will, in the coming days, be presenting the amendment of the fees to ensure that this reduction is approved by the House.