Over 70,000 Ghanaian Passports Sit Abandoned at the Passport Office, Ablakwa Laments

• Over 70,000 passports are lying uncollected at the Passport Office, Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has stated
• In an X post, he noted that this trend is worrying, however, measures are being put in place to address the situation
• Netizens who saw the post expressed mixed reactions in the comments section of the post, with many giving suggestions to solve this, while others gave potential reasons on why this was happening

Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa has stated that over 70,000 passports sit at the passport office without being claimed by their owners.

In an X post, the Minister expressed concern over the development, stressing that immediate action is critical to prevent further inconvenience to citizens.

A passport is an essential travel document that grants individuals the legal right to travel internationally, serving as proof of identity, nationality, and citizenship.

However, in this case, over 70,000 Ghanaians are left without their passports, which are now gathering dust at the Passport Office.

The Minister, worried over the trend, explained that frustration often leads applicants to give up on chasing the travel document.

To curb the trend, the Minister stated that his ministry is working on innovative measures to satisfy Ghanaians and ensure prompt processing of passports, and that they are handed over to their respective owners in good time.

See the Minister's post below:

Netizens react to 70,000 passports uncollected

Netizens who saw the Minister's post were divided in the comments section. Many proposed solutions to the menace, while others shared their experience.

@_ghanaprince wrote:

"For a courier to work well, house addresses & street names must work as well. Otherwise, dispatchers will end up waiting longer than expected. It’s time for each household to have a mailbox."

@Kofivava wrote:

"Eliminate goro boys! Passport should be an online service only."

@DanK_2022 wrote:

"Applicants are tired of following up for collections. “It is not ready”, excuses."

@sktettey wrote:

"For God and a Country Called Ghana."

@edudzi wrote:

"Correct Guy."

Ablakwa launches chip-embedded passport

Meanwhile, the Minister was at the Foreign Affairs Ministry ( Passport Head Office) on Monday, April 28, 2025, for the launch of Ghana’s Chip-Embedded Passport.

​Ghana officially rolled out its new chip-embedded passport system today, April 28, 2025, marking a significant advancement in the nation's travel documentation and security measures.

The new passports incorporate over 100 advanced security elements, including nanotechnology and micro Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips, making them highly resistant to forgery. The biographical data page is crafted from multi-layer compressed polycarbonate, enhancing durability and tamper resistance.

This upgrade aligns Ghana with the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) mandate that all member countries transition to chip-embedded passports by 2030. While the issuance of old biometric passports ceases today, existing ones remain valid until the 2030 deadline.

To enhance service delivery, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has introduced a 24-hour passport operation and delivery service, with Ghana Post Service designated as the primary courier.

Applicants can track their passport application process online, from submission to final delivery, ensuring transparency and efficiency.

Ablakwa to ensure 3-shift system at passport office

Earlier, Yen.com.gh reported that the Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced that the passport office will soon begin a three-shift system.

He noted that there would be a 24-hour passport office operation in Ghana to expedite passport processing.

The minister expects that the new system will enable applicants to receive their passports within a week.

Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh