Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced Monday the rollout of a nationwide e-trackable courier service to address a staggering backlog of over 70,000 uncollected passports.
The initiative, which began April 28, aims to eliminate systemic frustrations that have long plagued applicants, many of whom abandon the process due to delays and inefficiencies.
In a social media post ahead of the launch, Ablakwa described the new system as a solution to “end this nightmare,” enabling secure doorstep delivery across all 16 regions via certified couriers. The move responds to years of complaints over bureaucratic hurdles and overcrowded passport offices, with the ministry partnering with reputable logistics firms to ensure reliability.
Simultaneously, Ghana unveiled plans to introduce advanced chip-embedded passports by April 2025, marking its first major security upgrade since biometric documents were introduced in 2010. The new passports will integrate nanotechnology and micro radio frequency identification (RFID) chips storing biometric data such as fingerprints and facial scans, aligning with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
Ablakwa emphasized the upgrade would combat forgery and streamline international travel, calling it a “major leap forward” after collaboration with global experts. The RFID technology adheres to ICAO Document 9303 guidelines for machine-readable travel documents, designed to reduce identity fraud and enhance border security.
The minister also issued a stern warning against unauthorized agents exploiting applicants, declaring the “era of middlemen” over. He urged citizens to use official channels exclusively, citing reports of intermediaries charging inflated fees and causing delays.
Further reforms include a 24-hour passport processing and delivery service set to launch in April 2025. Applicants must provide accurate contact details to utilize the expedited system, which promises door-to-door delivery both domestically and for diaspora Ghanaians.
These reforms reflect Ghana’s push to modernize public services amid rising demands for transparency. The passport backlog, long symbolic of administrative dysfunction, now serves as a test case for the government’s ability to leverage technology for citizen-centric solutions. While the e-delivery system addresses immediate logistical gaps, the 2025 security upgrades position Ghana as a regional leader in compliant travel documentation a critical step as global migration systems tighten fraud controls.
The dual initiatives underscore a broader shift toward digitized governance in West Africa, where inefficient bureaucracies often hinder economic mobility. For citizens, the changes signal hope for reduced wait times and fairer access, though their success hinges on consistent implementation and public awareness to deter lingering exploitation by unofficial actors.
