The Foreign Affairs Ministry has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that every region in the country has a passport application centre by the end of this year.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, made the announcement on October 1, 2025, during a ceremony in Accra where diplomatic passports were presented to five distinguished Ghanaians. The event honoured travel vlogger Wode Maya, Grammy-nominated reggae artist Rocky Dawuni, broadcaster and entrepreneur Anita Erskine, contemporary visual artist Ibrahim Mahama, and British-Ghanaian entrepreneur Dentaa Amoateng MBE.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Ablakwa noted that although Ghana currently has 13 passport application centres operating in nine regions, there are still seven regions without access to such facilities. He assured the public that the government is working to close this gap before the year ends, beginning with the establishment of a centre in Bolgatanga this month.
The Minister explained that the expansion is part of government’s broader plan to decentralize passport services, reduce pressure on existing centres, and make the process more accessible and affordable for Ghanaians. Many applicants, he said, currently endure long journeys to access services, a burden the ministry is determined to address.
Mr. Ablakwa added that decentralizing the process will ease congestion, shorten waiting times, and improve efficiency in service delivery. He stressed that no Ghanaian should be disadvantaged in acquiring such an essential document because of geography.
The announcement has been welcomed as a step toward equitable access to government services, especially in newly created regions that have long demanded their own passport application centres.
