“Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Foreign Affairs Minister-designate, has committed to modernizing Ghana’s passport acquisition system by leveraging advanced technology to remove unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles for applicants.”

Speaking before the Appointments Committee on Friday, January 31, Foreign Affairs Minister-designate, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, highlighted the importance of integrating the Ghana Card into the passport application process to enhance service delivery and efficiency. Ablakwa criticized the existing system, arguing that Ghanaians who already possess the Ghana Card should not need to go through additional biometric registration for passports.

“I want to use technology to reform our passport services. I don’t believe Ghanaians with the Ghana Card should be queuing for passport registration in this day and age,” he stated. He further explained that since the Ghana Card already contains biometric and personal data, it should be sufficient for issuing passports without requiring applicants to repeat the registration process.

According to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, adopting a technology-driven approach to passport services will significantly reduce long queues and processing delays, while improving the overall efficiency of passport administration. He assured the Appointments Committee that if confirmed as Foreign Affairs Minister, he would prioritize modernizing the passport system and integrating digital solutions into Ghana’s identity management framework.

Ablakwa expressed confidence that these reforms would not only alleviate the burden on citizens but also enhance the country’s global competitiveness in issuing travel documents.