The increase in passport application fees is astronomical, opposition MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said.

Beginning from today, Monday, 1 April 2024, Ghanaians would be required to pay ¢500 and ¢644, respectively for a 32-page and 48-page passport as standard applicants.

The new charges were announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in a statement issued Monday, 1 April.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration wishes to inform its valued clients that, in accordance with the fees and charges (Miscellaneous provisions) Regulations, 2023 (L.I 2481), there will be an adjustment in the fees and charges for all services provided by the Ministry. The adjustment will take effect from Monday, 1st April, 2024.”

It annoumced that expedited application for a 48-page passport booklet now costs ¢800 while an expedited service for a 32-page passport will cost ¢700.

Reacting to the new charges, the ranking member of the foreign affairs committee of parliament wrote on Facebook: “I am terribly disappointed in Ghana’s Foreign Ministry for the astronomical increases in passport application fees". 

"As my NDC colleagues and I always maintained at the Foreign Affairs Committee, the current economic crisis and unprecedented high cost of living make it untenable to impose these draconian fees", Mr Ablakwa noted.

He added: "We insisted at Committee that the worst case scenario could be a graduated approach when economic conditions improve but alas they ignored our advice and have gone ahead to impose these insensitive rates in one fell swoop.”

“The Ministry should reconsider this inimical action immediately. We shall surely revisit this matter when Parliament resumes from recess,” he stated.