Ghana's 24-hour passport production system is yielding relatively massive results within the first month of its launch, according to the Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

Following the rollout of the novel chip-embedded passports about a month ago, a total of 31,935 passports have been printed. The sector minister shared the achievement after embarking on a midnight visit on Saturday, May 24, to the passport head office to assess the progress of operations by the staff.

He commended his “hardworking and patriotic staff for their impressive work ethic,” adding that “the reset is on — we shall not disappoint the good people of Ghana.”

The new chip-embedded passport, which was rolled out on April 28, represents a major shift from the outgoing biometric system and brings Ghana in line with international travel standards.

The updated document contains 175 security features and is embedded with nanotechnology to safeguard against fraud and damage. It also includes a compressed polymer-based biographical data page, which users are advised to handle carefully.

Ghanaians still holding valid biometric passports can continue using them until 2030 in line with regulations set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), though they may opt to upgrade to the new version at any time.

Biometric Travel Solutions spearheaded the development of the new passport platform, with Troskit and Ghana Post leading courier services under a 24-hour operational model.

As of last week, a total number of 8,463 Ghanaians had received their new chip-embedded passports across the country, according to Mr Ablakwa. Three weeks ago, Mr Ablakwa saw to the first round of delivery of Ghana’s new chip-embedded passport. The minister joined Ghana Post on 9th May to personally hand over passports to clients at the addresses they provided.

Applicants facing address challenges will be able to retrieve their passports from designated Ghana Post offices at no extra cost. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has assured that Ghana Post will continue to ensure timely delivery of passports across the country. Delivery packages have been designed with tamper-evident sealing to guarantee document integrity.

Meanwhile, Director of the Accra Passport Office, Felix Nyarku, has expressed concerns over the inconsistencies in applicants’ identification documents, highlighting mismatches between names on Ghana Cards and birth certificates.

During a visit by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Foreign Affairs last week, Mr Nyarku noted that this often delays the processing of chip-embedded passports.

What not to do

The new passport contains a biographical data-page composed of layers of polymer compressed into a solid substrate that must not be bent or kept in the pocket, especially the back pockets.

It must be protected from heat and all forms of liquid. Holders are advised not to store other cards with chips embedded in them inside the passport, as it may interfere with encoded information on the (RFID) inside the passport.

Avoid attempting to split the biographical data page. This will permanently damage the passport.