The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, officially commissioned a new Passport Application Centre in Dambai on Monday, December 29, 2025, making the Oti Region the first of Ghana’s newly created regions to host such a facility. The opening fulfills a government pledge to establish passport offices in every regional capital by the end of 2025 to eliminate the need for residents to travel long distances for travel documents.
During the ceremony, the Minister announced a series of significant reforms to the passport administration system, most notably a reduction in application fees from GH₵500.00 to GH₵350.00. In addition to the lower costs, the Minister detailed several new initiatives aimed at improving efficiency and transparency, including the introduction of an e-tracking system for applicants to monitor their status, free courier delivery of finished passports, and the availability of same-day processing for emergency cases.
Mr. Ablakwa emphasized that while the Ministry is digitizing processes and deploying mobile biometric equipment to speed up service, strict vetting remains a priority to safeguard the integrity of the Ghanaian passport. He issued a stern warning that measures are in place to apprehend non-citizens attempting to acquire the document illegally and urged the public to avoid using intermediaries.
The Oti Regional Minister, John Kwadwo Gyapong, welcomed the development as a milestone for decentralization, noting that the facility would drastically reduce travel time and costs for local residents. He praised the collaboration between regional stakeholders and called on the center’s staff to maintain high standards of professionalism and integrity. The Member of Parliament for Krachi West, Helen Adjoa Ntoso, also expressed her confidence that the center would significantly enhance the quality of public service delivery in the area.
The Dambai centre is already fully operational, with ten local applicants having submitted their documentation during the commissioning event. Officials confirmed that the facility is equipped to handle regular applications within a turnaround time of under 15 days.
This expansion marks a key step in the Ministry’s broader goal of ensuring equitable access to essential government services across all sixteen regions of the country.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
