The cost of passport application fees has been reviewed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
The change in application fees has been reflected on the official website of the Ministry.
The Ministry, about four months ago, proposed a 544 percent increase in passport application fees from the current GH¢100 to GH¢644.
The Minister, Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, explained at the time that the proposed increment was to reflect the increase in printing costs in order to curb losses the state incurs in printing passports.
She had argued that Ghanaians, compared to other citizens in West Africa, pay less and that “it is time for Ghanaians to pay realistic prices for passports they acquire to travel beginning next year.”
She was speaking on the floor of Parliament in support of a GH¢1.127 million budget estimate for the ministry for the year ending December 31, 2024, which has been approved.
“Ghanaians pay just about GH¢100 for a passport, yet 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.
“On the cost of a passport (for GH¢100), it is not sustainable; therefore, I will plead with this honourable House to look at this issue for us. It is already before the Subsidiary Legislation Committee, and I am hoping that Ghanaians will pay realistic prices for passports.”
The standard application for a 48-page passport will now cost GHC644, while that for a 32-page passport is GHC500.
For expedited applications, the 32-page document is GHC 700, while the 48-page passport is GHC 800.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
