As part of the government’s ambitious 24-hour economy initiative, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced a major overhaul of passport office operations in the country. Under the new directive, passport office staff are to prepare to work 24/7 shifts, including day, night, and dawn shifts, to ensure faster processing and streamlined service delivery.
During a tour of the passport offices in Accra, Minister Ablakwa said one of the main objectives of the reforms was to ensure that Ghanaians received their passports within a week of submitting their applications. The move is expected to eliminate long delays and improve the quality of passport issuance.
In a bid to make passports easier to process, Ablakwa has unveiled plans to integrate chip passports into the Ghanaian passport system. Biometric-enhanced passports not only increase security but also speed up verification processes by linking passport data to the National Identification Authority (NIA) system. This digital integration is expected to significantly reduce errors and reduce the number of fraudulent passport applications.
In addition to modernizing the process, the Minister also announced a review of passport fees. The government plans to reduce the cost for regular applicants while increasing premium rates, ensuring affordability, and generating revenue to sustain operational improvements.
Minister Ablakwa stressed the government’s commitment to ensuring efficient delivery of public services, saying:
“You have also heard about our big reforms that we want to carry out. We want the passport administration in our country to become a 24-hour operation. This year 2025, you need to stand and get ready; prepare yourselves. We’re going to run three shifts. We want to cut down on the waiting time for passports. “We believe that within a week, it should be possible to get a Ghanaian passport when you apply for it. The 24-hour economy intervention we’re making will address that,” he added.” he said.
The 24-hour passport service will help Ghanaians, especially those who need urgent travel documents, avoid unnecessary delays. This initiative is in line with a broader economic vision to ensure the continued productivity of key government institutions.
The introduction of 24/7 passport services is part of Ghana’s ongoing digital transformation programme, which aims to modernise public services through technology-based solutions. By linking passport data to the Ghana Card, the authorities hope to eliminate inefficiencies and streamline identity verification processes, making passport issuance easier and more secure.
Ghanaians have responded positively to the news, with many expressing hope that the initiative will put an end to long queues, frustrating wait times, and unnecessary bureaucratic delays at passport offices. However, some have expressed concerns about implementation challenges, including staff well-being, operational costs, and system modernisation.
Despite these concerns, the 24/7 passport service is a groundbreaking reform that, if implemented effectively, could set a precedent for other government services to follow suit, further pushing Ghana towards a modernized, efficient public service sector.
