Finance

Passport fee hike reflects true costs, not profit-making – Majority caucus

Amid public outcry over the recently revised cost of passport acquisition, Dr. Andy Appiah-Kubi, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, has clarified that the newly adjusted fees reflect the actual costs of the passport application process, rather than being a means for the government to generate profits.

Addressing the press in Accra, Dr. Appiah-Kubi explained that the decision to increase the passport application fees was driven by the high costs associated with processing the documents, including expenses for equipment, additional services, and the limited number of service centres across the country.

He emphasised that the move is part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ efforts to streamline and improve the passport acquisition process, aiming to ensure transparency and efficiency.

Dr. Appiah-Kubi elaborated on the process behind the fee adjustment, stating that it followed discussions in Parliament, where lawmakers questioned the need for government subsidies in passport acquisition. As a result, the ministry proposed a fee adjustment, which was later reviewed and approved by Parliament’s Subsidiary Legislation Committee.

According to Dr. Appiah-Kubi, the ministry provided detailed cost breakdowns, revealing that the production of one passport booklet costs GH¢400, with an additional administrative cost of about GH¢100, leading to the decision to set the fee at GH¢500.

“The ministry did not just come to us for a review of the rates. It was through debates in the House of the Parliament that parliamentarians disagreed with this notion of subsidy that if it is not a requirement for proof of citizenship, why do we have to allocate budgetary funds to subsidise passport acquisition and, therefore, we encouraged the ministry to find more pragmatic ways of covering the cost of passport acquisition.

“The ministry had to come back to Parliament through Ministry of Finance with proposals urging us to approve for them to also review passport rates. They came to Parliament with this proposal of GH₵700; and that was when the referral was made to our committee on subsidiary legislation that we agreed to reduce it from GH¢700 to GH¢500,” he elaborated.

He expressed hope that with the implementation of the new fee, the ministry would be able to invest in necessary equipment and improve passport processing efficiency. Additionally, he mentioned the ministry’s plans to establish more application centres across the country to reduce the inconvenience and costs associated with travelling to the main passport office in Accra.

Dr. Appiah-Kubi acknowledged the public’s concerns and apologised for any inconvenience caused by the sudden fee adjustments. However, he emphasised the necessity of the changes, citing the evolving landscape of identification and citizenship verification, with the introduction of the Ghana Card as the primary means of identification.

He also highlighted that compared to other countries in the West African sub-region, Ghana’s passport acquisition fees remain relatively low, with some countries charging significantly higher fees for passports that have shorter validity periods.

In conclusion, Dr. Appiah-Kubi reiterated that the fee adjustment was a collaborative decision endorsed by all members of the committee, aiming to cover the actual costs of passport production and enhance the efficiency of the passport acquisition process.

 

Source: thebftonline.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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