By Professor Ransford Gyampo of the University of Ghana expressed his support for the increase in passport application fees, noting that with rising production costs, such an adjustment was to be anticipated. Nevertheless, he raised concerns about the magnitude of the increase, deeming it excessively high.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry, in an April 1 statement, announced the increase in application fees for all passport categories.
The fee adjustments have resulted in the cost of a 32-page standard passport rising from GHC100 to GHC500, and GHC644 for a 48-page standard booklet, effective as of Monday, April 1, 2024.
Likewise, applicants choosing the 32-page expedited service will now pay GHC700, and GHC800 for the 48-page expedited service.
These increases, exceeding 500 percent, have provoked public apprehension, prompting the minority in Parliament to contemplate “triggering a process to review the new fees” once the House reconvenes from recess.
Speaking on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, April 6, Prof Gyampo said “I favour some increment and I believe that the good people of Ghana will appreciate that things have gone up, so we should adjust a little. We were expecting some adjustment, but the 400 percent was too much.”
