Ghanaians seeking to acquire an ordinary passport will now pay GH₵350 instead of the previous GH₵500, following a recent adjustment announced by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Addressing Parliament on Thursday, March 13, the North Tongu MP explained that the reduction is part of the government’s commitment to easing the financial burden on citizens while ensuring that passport services remain accessible.
“In our effort to make passports more accessible to all Ghanaians, and per instructions I have received from His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, we are pleased to announce the reduction of the ordinary passport booklet, that is the 32-page booklet, from GH₵500 to GH₵350,” he stated.
He assured the House that necessary legislative procedures would be initiated to formalize the new pricing structure.
Additionally, the minister revealed that a special committee would be set up to evaluate the transition to chip-embedded passports, a project originally introduced by the previous government.
The cost of acquiring a Ghanaian passport saw a significant hike under the Akufo-Addo administration, rising from GH₵100 to GH₵500 to accommodate printing costs. At the time, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) strongly opposed the increase, promising a review if they assumed office after the 2024 elections.
With this reduction, the government aims to fulfill its pledge of making essential services more affordable while maintaining efficiency in passport issuance.
