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The Ministry of Overseas Affairs and Regional Integration is proposing a 544 per cent increment in passport software charges from the present GH¢100 to GH¢644.

The proposed increment is to mirror the rise in printing prices to be able to curb losses the state incurs in printing passports.

Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister of Overseas Affairs and Regional Integration, mentioned Ghanaians, in comparison with different residents in West Africa pay much less and that “it’s time for Ghanaians to pay real looking costs for passports they purchase to journey starting subsequent yr”.

She was talking on the ground of Parliament in assist of a GH¢1.127 million funds estimate for the ministry for the yr ending December 31, 2024 which has been permitted.

“Ghanaians pay nearly GH¢100 for a passport but to supply one passport booklet it prices GH¢400 which implies that for each passport that an applicant acquires, the federal government has to place in GH¢300 and this isn’t sustainable,” she mentioned.

In keeping with her, the proposal was already earlier than the Subsidiary Laws Committee for consideration into the Charges and Fees Act.

“On the price of passport (for GH¢100), it’s not sustainable subsequently I’ll plead with this honourable Home to take a look at this situation for us. It’s already earlier than the Subsidiary Laws Committee and I’m hoping that Ghanaians pays real looking costs for passports.”

Passports, Ms Botchwey mentioned didn’t primarily function identification doc for Ghanaians any longer, and that those that wanted them, did so to journey and “I do not suppose that they’d need us to proceed to subsidise it”.

At the moment, Ghana pays the bottom quantity for passport within the West Africa subregion which interprets into US$7.7 on the present alternate fee in comparison with Cameroon’s US$180, Guinea US$57, Guinea-Bissau US$65, Burkina Faso US$80 and Nigeria US$54.29.

Talking with journalists after the approval of her ministry’s funds, Ms Botchwey mentioned the present prices for passports in Ghana was insufficient to cowl manufacturing prices and individuals who wants it should take full price.

“Passports, as I mentioned, are not sources of identification as all of us have our nationwide ID card. Subsequently, anyone who wants a passport and really applies and acquires a passport does so as a result of they’ve intention to journey.

“So, if you will journey otherwise you intend to journey and you can’t pay GH¢400 then it’s unlucky as a result of even tickets are actually costly,” she mentioned.

Ms Botchwey appealed to Ghanaians who weren’t in a rush to embark on any worldwide journey, to not go for passports.

She mentioned to handle service challenges which had been raised by passport candidates, her outfit had supplied candidates with consular companies.

“We’ve got supplied them with choices to go to a premium centre the place they pay a price to the service supplier in consolation the place they are going to be supplied world class companies,” she mentioned.

A Deputy Minister of Overseas Affairs and Regional Integration, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, justifying the hike informed the Home that plans have been far superior for Ghana to introduce chip-imbedded passports within the second quarter of 2024 to have the safety of the Ghanaian passport.