Special Remuneration for Passport Staff After GSS Recognition – Foreign Affairs Minister
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced a special bonus for staff of the Passport Office following the institution’s recognition as the most transformed and least corrupt public institution in a recent Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) survey.
Mr Ablakwa said the bonus would be paid next week as a reward for the improved performance and service delivery recorded by the Passport Office.
He made the announcement when he paid a working visit to the Passport Head Office to congratulate management and staff on the recognition.
“This award is a reflection of the dedication, professionalism and commitment of our passport administration staff. I have therefore announced that all passport administration staff will receive a special bonus next week,” he said.
Mr Ablakwa said the recognition by the GSS demonstrated the results of ongoing reforms at the Passport Office and gave assurance that the Ministry would continue to improve the system.
He said the reforms were being driven by integrity, professionalism, innovation, client satisfaction and excellence, to make passport services faster, more secure and accessible to the public.
The Minister said Ghana had introduced chip-embedded passports with enhanced security features, while measures had also been put in place to prevent foreigners from illegally acquiring Ghanaian passports.
He said passport application backlogs had been cleared following the introduction of 24-hour operations, while applicants could now receive their passports within a few working days, generally under 15 days, without relying on intermediaries.
Mr Ablakwa said processing fees had also been reduced by 30 per cent to make passports more affordable, while courier services had been introduced to improve convenience and facilitate faster delivery without additional charges.
He said same-day passport processing was now available, alongside digital tracking that allowed applicants to monitor the progress of their applications.
The Minister further said Passport Application Centres were now operating in all 16 regions of Ghana, giving applicants greater access to passport services without having to travel long distances.
According to him, the reforms had also strengthened the security and integrity of Ghana’s passport system while improving the experience of citizens seeking the document.
Mr Ablakwa commended the management and staff of the Passport Office for their work and urged them to maintain the improved standards.
“We shall continue with our reforms driven by integrity, professionalism, innovation, client satisfaction and excellence,” he said.
The Minister said the government would continue to support measures that improve public service delivery and restore confidence in state institutions.
Joyce Adwoa Animia Ocran, ISD
