GENERAL NEWS

‘Passport no longer main national ID; don’t go for one if you can’t afford it’ – Ayorkor Botchwey

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has suggested that Ghanaians who cannot afford a passport should refrain from applying for it, stressing that passports are no longer the primary form of identification.

Speaking to journalists, she highlighted the effectiveness of the National Identification system as the primary means of identification.

Ms Botchwey stated, “Today, as we speak, we have the National Identification that is working very well, so that’s our primary source of identification. No longer the passport.

“And even those who have the National ID can travel into the country with it. So, then I’m humbly asking Ghanaians that please, if you do not need a passport and because you cannot afford it, please, humbly, I’m asking you not to go for a passport because it’s no longer your primary source of identification,” she added.

Expressing concern over the government’s subsidy of passport applications, she warned that quality services provided to Ghanaians might suffer if the subsidy continues.

“If the government is subsidizing heavily, it’s difficult to provide any good services to Ghanaians,” she said.

She also assured cooperation with Parliament should there be a review of passport fees, emphasising that fee adjustments are not meant to financially burden citizens.

The Ministry announced fee increases for passport services effective April 1, 2024, in alignment with the 2023 Fees and Charges regulations, L.I.2481.

The processing fee for an expedited 48-page passport is now GHS800, while a 32-page application costs GHS700.

She noted: “Fees come from the Parliament of Ghana. We make a presentation to them; we give them the bare facts of what it is. Parliament is aware of this and these charges came from Parliament. If Parliament decides, we should go back, we will have to look at it, it is Parliament that has decided and we will go by it.”

 

Source: classfmonline.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. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. 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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