By Okine Daniel – Sankofaonline
In a moment steeped in gratitude and national pride, Honorable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has commissioned the first-ever Passport Application Centre (PAC) in Ghana’s Upper East Region . This is a historic breakthrough for the 1.3 million citizens who have long been excluded from direct access to this vital service.
The ceremony, warmly embraced by traditional leaders and local communities, marked a turning point in Ghana’s journey toward equitable development. Hon. Ablakwa, visibly moved by the reception, expressed his “immense gratitude to the Chiefs and good people of the Upper East Region for the unforgettable hospitality accorded me.”
This achievement is the first step in a broader national commitment: to ensure that all seven regions previously without PACs are fully onboarded by December this year. “One fixed, six more to go,” Ablakwa declared, reaffirming his pledge to end what he called an “unacceptable situation.”
Beyond infrastructure, the reforms are sweeping. Ablakwa announced that Ghana’s passport security protocols have been upgraded using artificial intelligence, with all PACs now fully integrated to prevent blacklisted applicants from exploiting regional gaps. “Foreigners should not attempt to acquire our passports,” he warned. “They will be promptly apprehended and prosecuted without mercy.”
In a move welcomed by citizens across the country, Ablakwa also confirmed that passport fee reductions will take effect in the coming days, pending the maturation of the new Fees and Charges Legislative Instrument in Parliament.
All newly onboarded regions, including the Upper East, will benefit from ICAO-standard chip-embedded passports, e-Tracking systems, courier delivery, and a maximum 15-day expedited processing timeline . These reforms place Ghana’s passport services at par with global best practices.
The initiative is emblematic of the Mahama administration’s inclusive development agenda, which seeks to guarantee fair access to government services for every Ghanaian, regardless of geography. “Every part of Ghana, including the 1.3 million people of the Upper East Region, deserves fair access,” Ablakwa emphasized.
He concluded by commending local communities and communal associations for their partnership, noting that such collaboration is essential to building a Ghana that serves all its people equally .
The opening of the Upper East PAC is not merely administrative , it is a declaration of dignity, a triumph of inclusion, and a promise fulfilled.
