The Director of Passports, Yahaya Amantana Mahama, has expressed concern over persistent public misconceptions surrounding passport acquisition in Ghana, despite ongoing reforms aimed at simplifying the process.
He noted that some Ghanaians still believe the involvement of middlemen is necessary to obtain a passport, a practice he said continues to undermine efforts to modernize and streamline service delivery.
For years, obtaining a passport in Ghana was widely regarded as a stressful and time-consuming process. Applicants often faced long queues, overcrowded offices, delayed appointments, and the presence of unauthorized agents who exploited desperate citizens. What should have been a straightforward identification process frequently turned into months of frustration, delays, and additional costs.
In many cases, applicants would arrive at passport offices before dawn in an attempt to secure limited daily slots.
However, recent reforms introduced by the Passport Office are reportedly easing these challenges. The digitisation of the application process, online appointment booking systems, reduced processing times, and courier delivery services have significantly improved accessibility and efficiency.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Metro News, Mr. Mahama said that although the system has undergone substantial modernization, a section of the public has yet to fully embrace the changes.
He further revealed plans to introduce a more user-friendly, self-explanatory online portal designed to simplify passport and citizenship application processes for Ghanaians.
Officials at the Passport Office maintain that the ongoing reforms are aimed at making passport acquisition faster, more transparent, and more accessible to all citizens.
