Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has indicated that the novel chip-embedded passport, which was rolled out today, has been presented to President John Dramani Mahama.

Speaking at the rollout event at the Passport Office Headquarters at Ridge, he noted that former President Nana Akufo-Addo has also received his new passport.

The sector minister also indicated that by the end of the day, former President John Agyekum Kufuor would receive his chip-embedded passport.

The new security-enhanced, chip-embedded passports will make Ghana compliant with requirements from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Director of Passports Kwasi Asante, on his part, noted that the new era will safeguard the lives of citizens and assure the world of Ghana’s commitment to technological advancement.

An expert at the Document Forensic Centre of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) noted that the new chip-embedded passport has security features that are of international repute. The novel passport has 175 security features compared to the 37 security features on the biometric passport. He noted that the new passport has been embedded with nanotechnology.

The expert entreated end-users to avoid bending or keeping the new passport in the pocket, as it contains a biographical data page composed of layers of polymer compressed into a solid substrate.

The novel passport must be protected from heat and all forms of liquid. It must not be stored with other cards with chip embedded in them, as it may interfere with encoded information on the (RFID) inside the passport. End-users are to avoid spliting the biographical data page as it will permanently damage the passport.

The new platform was built by Biometric Travel Solutions. Ghana Post, the lead courier service provider, will ensure Ghanaians with address challenges pick up their chip-embedded passports at the nearest Ghana Post Office under a 24-hour operation.

Present at the event included Chief of Staff Julius Debrah and his Deputy, Stan Dogbe, Dept. Attorney-General Srem Sai, Government Communications Minister, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam Nartey George, Dept. Majority Leader, Rickett Hagan, Chairman of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee Alfred Okoe Vanderpoye; and Dr Lawrence Tetteh.