The proposal, which is currently being considered by the Subsidiary Laws Committee, would enable the ministry to curb losses in printing passport booklets.
![](https://i0.wp.com/lamarblogspot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/img_1316.jpg?resize=816%2C408&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/lamarblogspot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/img_1316.jpg?resize=816%2C408&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/lamarblogspot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/img_1316.jpg?resize=816%2C408&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/lamarblogspot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/img_1316.jpg?resize=816%2C408&ssl=1)
Disclosing this in Parliament on Thursday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Shirley Ayorkor Botchway said: “The time has come for Ghanaians to pay a realistic price for the passports they will obtain for travel from next year.
She said the fiscal constraints prevalent in the economy had reached a point where it was no longer „sustainable“ for states to continue subsidizing passports.
“Ghanaians pay about GH¢100 for a passport, but it costs GH¢400 to produce one passport booklet. This means the government has to put in GH¢300 every time an applicant obtains a passport. „This is not sustainable,“ she said. she said.
The Minister stated this ahead of approving the ministry's budget estimate of GH¢1.127 million.
Rates from other countries
She stressed that the lack of printing of passport booklets is hampering the necessary investment in passport offices.
“A passport is no longer an identity document because we all have a national ID. So people who need a passport and actually apply for and get a passport are doing so because they have the intention to travel. It will be.
“So if you are planning to travel, or intend to travel, and cannot afford to pay GH¢400, that is unfortunate because even tickets are expensive now,” she said.
The minister also appealed to Ghanaians who are not in a hurry to travel: „Please do not collect your passport.“
Botchway said Ghanaians had complained about the service and environment provided by the ministry at passport application centres, with a focus on providing prompt service to applicants.
To address such challenges, she said the ministry is providing consular services, passports, visas and certificate options to applicants.
Disclaimer: The views, comments, opinions, contributions and statements made by readers and contributors on this page do not necessarily characterize the views or policies of LamarBlogspot.