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Minister proposes over 500% increase in cost for passport, new cost pegged at GH¢644

Shirley-Ayorkor-Botchwey

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has proposed an increase of the amount Ghanaians pay to secure passports from GH¢100 to GH¢644.

“Ghanaians pay just about GH¢100 for a passport, To produce one passport booklet, it costs GH¢400, which means that for every passport that an applicant acquires, the government has to put in GH¢300 and this is not sustainable,” she said.

According to her, the deficit in the printing of passport booklets was preventing the necessary investments in the Passport Office.

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Speaking on the floor of Parliament before the approval of a GH¢1.127 million budget estimate for her ministry, Ayorkor Botchwey added that the proposal is currently being considered by the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation.

“On the cost of passports, it is not sustainable, therefore, I will plead with this honourable house to look at the issue for us. It is already before the subsidiary legislation committee, and I’m hoping that Ghanaians will pay realistic prices for passports. At the moment, passports don’t serve as IDs, we have national ID cards. Therefore, those who need passports are those who need them to travel, and I don’t think that they would want us to continue to subsidize it.”

Meanwhile, she has also revealed that the Ministry is in the process of securing a giant printer to expedite the process.

By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana

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