The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has commissioned a Passport Application Centre at Dambai in the Oti Region, bringing an end to years of costly and time-consuming travel for residents seeking passport services.
Speaking at the commissioning, Minister Ablakwa said the centre eliminates the need for applicants to travel long distances to Accra or Ho for biometric capture and passport collection.
“For far too long, citizens in this region have had to make exhausting trips to Accra just to access a basic public service. That inconvenience ends today,” he stated.
The new facility is expected to deliver faster and more efficient services, including a 30% reduction in processing time, electronic tracking of applications, courier delivery, same-day expedited services, and passport delivery within 15 days.
“These reforms are about restoring dignity to the Ghanaian passport process and ensuring efficiency, transparency and convenience for applicants,” Ablakwa added.
Addressing security concerns in the border region, the Minister said stricter safeguards would prevent non-Ghanaians from obtaining Ghanaian passports.
“Oti is a border region, and we will not compromise the integrity of our passport. I have met with the regional security chiefs, and we have agreed on heightened measures to ensure that only eligible Ghanaians are issued passports,” he said.
He emphasised the importance of equitable access to public services. “Ghanaians in all 16 regions deserve fair and equal access to state services. This is why decentralisation is not optional—it is a responsibility,” Ablakwa noted.
The commissioning of the Dambai centre is part of a nationwide initiative to expand passport services and improve service delivery across the country. “This is proof that the reset agenda is real. We are determined to leave no region behind,” the Minister concluded.
The event drew participation from traditional leaders, regional and local government officials, and representatives of institutions involved in passport administration and security.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Fred Duhoe
