News:
June 19, 2025
Okaikwei Central Member of Parliament Yaw Patrick Boamah said the impression created by the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa that the cost of acquiring passport would be reduced for Ghanaians is yet to materialize.
According to him answers provided by the Minister when he appeared on the floor of the House on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, clearly vindicates his position two months ago.
In a media briefing with members of the Parliamentary press corps, he explained that the proposed reduction in the cost of acquiring a Ghanaian passport from five hundred cedis to three hundred and fifty as has been announced is yet to see the light of day.
“I then indicated to the Foreign Minister that he did not have the unilateral powers to reduce the prices”, stating that the Minister’s answers on the floor of the House confirms that prices have not been reduce.
He stated further stated that the Minister stated that he would be in parliament in August 2025 this year when the finance minister comes with the new fees and charges legislation that would give the foreign Minister the guidelines and power to either reduce or increase passport price.
“So, the impression that the prices were going to reduce forthwith was not the case; Ghanaians should not be carried away with that pledge.
From the statement he presented to us, he said it remains a pledge of the government to reduce passport prices”.
He notes that it is a good thing to have the price reduced to cushion Ghanaians, but once it has not been done, we should put it on record that it is not the case today; “he came here two months ago and now indicating that he is going to come back in August of this year”.
Patrick Boamah asserts that Ghanaians are patiently waiting for the Minister to fulfil that promise even though that decision would have to be made by the finance minister, whether it is within his revenue projections.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com