Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Pays Surprise Midnight Visit to Passport Office to Assess New 24-Hour Chip-Embedded Passport System
Accra, Ghana – In a bold move to ensure efficiency and transparency, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, paid a surprise midnight visit to the headquarters of the Passport Office in Accra to inspect operations under the newly launched 24-hour chip-embedded passport production system.
The initiative, which officially commenced on April 28, 2025 aims to clear the backlog of passport applications and significantly reduce the long delays that have plagued passport processing in the country for years.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, May 24, 2025, Mr. Ablakwa revealed that over 31,900 chip-embedded passports have been printed since the introduction of the new around-the-clock system. He commended the staff on the night shift for their dedication and patriotic service to the nation.
“Earlier this week, I paid a surprise visit to the passport head office at midnight to check on our new 24-hour chip-embedded passport printing operations, he wrote. I commend my hardworking and patriotic staff for their impressive work ethic. For many years, passport applicants in Ghana have experienced long delays, with some waiting months to receive their documents.
The Foreign Affairs Minister noted that the new system is part of a broader effort to modernize Ghana’s passport issuance process and meet international standards for biometric travel documents. The chip-embedded passports, which are now being issued, come with enhanced security features aimed at improving global acceptance of Ghanaian passports and strengthening the country’s border security framework.
This latest reform is part of what Mr. Ablakwa describes as a “RESET” agenda for the Foreign Ministry, signaling a new era of efficiency, accountability, and responsiveness in public service delivery.
The RESET is on. We shall not disappoint the good people of Ghana. For God and Country,” the minister concluded, adding a patriotic touch with the national flag.
The 24-hour passport production system is expected to drastically reduce wait times, ease pressure on passport offices, and boost public confidence in the government’s ability to deliver timely services.
This development comes as a relief to thousands of Ghanaians who have long called for improvements in passport acquisition, often citing inefficiencies, long queues, and processing delays. With the implementation of this robust system and continuous monitoring by top government officials, expectations are high that Ghana’s passport services will become a benchmark for efficiency across the West African region.
Stay with us for more updates on this transformative change in Ghana’s public service sector.