Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Passport forms which were in short supply a few weeks ago and therefore leading to a flourishing black market is now free.
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration said the forms can now be filled through a Pdf format online.
The massive development has been greeted with relish by many Ghanaians especially those who suffered the bites occasioned by the shortage of forms.
Passport acquisition has over the years been a source of headache for many who seek to acquire the travel document.
Bad elements have ignored the security implications of facilitating its acquisition by unqualified persons such as foreigners as they make fortunes from the unpatriotic tendency.
The coming weeks will determine how much change the altered template is going to bring to bear on passport acquisition.
‘The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has taken careful note of public concerns regarding Passport acquisition in the country and has therefore resolved that passport forms are now free’ according to the statement.
Continuing, the statement pointed out that ‘a free Portable Document Format (PDF) version of the paper-based (Manual) Passport Application Form has been introduced to applicants on the Ministry’s Portal, Effective Thursday November 1, 2018.’
The Introduction of the PDF Form, the statement added ‘is part of measures to make Passport Forms readily accessible to all Ghanaians. This completely eliminates middlemen popularly known as ‘Goro boys’ whose illegal activities have perpetuated bribery and corrupt activities in the passport acquisition processes. The PDF form will therefore replace the old paper-based application form.’
The public is hereby to note that payment of the processing fee for the PDF form can only be made electronically and not through the banks as was done previously. Payment can only be made by mobile money (MTN, Vodafone) and Visa or MasterCard. Application processing fee still remains at GH¢50 for regular and GH¢100 for express, the statement went on.
Additionally, the new PDF application does not replace the already existing online Passport Application System which currently exists only at the Accra Passport Application Centres; members of the public have been notified.
By A.R. Gomda