Passport Fee Hike Here to Stay – Foreign Affairs Ministry
“We would have money to be able to invest to buy the equipment, the printers, and whatever other stuff that we need to be able to give excellent service. With the cash revenue flow, it will become possible for us to approach the suppliers of this equipment and materials and whatever that we need in our work.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has announced its decision not to reconsider the recently adjusted passport fees.
According to the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, the revised fees aim to boost revenue generation, thereby improving service delivery at passport offices nationwide.
Effective April 1, the Ministry revised passport application fees, from GH¢100 to ¢500 for the 32-page booklet and to ¢644 for the 48-page booklet under the standard service.
In response to concerns raised by the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, regarding the fee hike, Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong insists the fees have come to stay saying the decision was supported by the majority of Ghanaians and affirmed by Parliament.
Speaking to Accra-based Joy News, he further reiterated the importance of the increased revenue in addressing the backlog of passport applications.
“If he (Ablakwa) wants us to come to the committee, we will respect the committee, we will appear before the committee, we will repeat the reasons behind the request and the approval given by parliament for the passport fees.”
“These figures with the support of the majority of Ghanaians have come to stay. There is nothing he can do about it. He can make his noise out there. If he wants to bring it to the committee, to Parliament, we will meet him on the floor of Parliament. We will discuss it, we will debate it, and at the end of the day, he will fall flat on his face.”
He highlighted that the additional funds would enable the acquisition of essential equipment and materials for passport processing, such as printers and capturing machines. This, in turn, would contribute to reducing appointment waiting times, which currently extend to several months due to insufficient equipment.
“We would have money to be able to invest to buy the equipment, the printers, and whatever other stuff that we need to be able to give excellent service. With the cash revenue flow, it will become possible for us to approach the suppliers of this equipment and materials and whatever that we need in our work.”
“So once we get more computers, once we get more laminating machines, once we get more capturing machines, we will be able to capture more biometrics and therefore the six months, seven months, or eight months appointment days would be reduced.”
“At the moment, it is out of control because we don’t have the capturing machines. We do have some but it is not enough,” he added.
Source:newsalertgh
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