Ablakwa Announces Plans to Reduce Passport Fees for Less Privileged

Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced plans to restructure the country’s passport fee system to provide financial relief for students and vulnerable citizens.

Speaking on The KeyPoints with Alfred Ocansey on February 8, 2025, Ablakwa described the current passport fees as too high, particularly for students on government scholarships.

“We need to overhaul the fee structure. Students on scholarships should not have to pay for passports. It should be worked into the scholarship package,” he stated.

He further explained that frequent travelers and businesspeople would pay higher fees for expedited services and larger booklets, helping to subsidize passport costs for low-income applicants.

“We don’t want the passport office to make losses, but we can structure it so that the wealthy pay more for enhanced services, while students and vulnerable people benefit from reduced fees,” he added.

The proposed reforms aim to make passports more accessible while maintaining financial sustainability for the passport office.