Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, has expressed concern over the continued prevalence of extortion and fraudulent practises inside the Passport Office.
After visiting the Passport Office on Monday, August 14, the Minister expressed her surprise at the bizarre procedures that applicants are subjected to as a result of the activities of certain office workers.
According to a UNODC research issued in 2021, passport agency officials are one of the groups of public officials in Ghana that are most prone to receive bribes.
As a result, the Minister has requested that overstaying security personnel seconded to the Passport Office refrain from reporting for duty commencing Monday, August 21, 2023.
“We’ve always said that no agency should keep their staff here for more than a year, but this is sometimes overlooked.” “As a result, I intend to see that this is carried out precisely,” she stated.
During an interview, she highlighted that a thorough inquiry has been launched to resolve the current problem.
“We’re looking into it, and we have some leads.” we are dealing with, and we will have some concrete information about how we will deal with it very shortly. It’s really wrong, she added.
The Minister expressed regret that current efforts to digitise processes at the Passport Office have been hampered by particular public servants who misuse the online application system for personal advantage.
She also advised Passport Office employees to avoid extortion and unethical behaviour.
The Minister encouraged them to preserve professional standards, practise good work ethics, and treat applicants with dignity.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
