Every Ghanaian who has gone through the process of renewing an expired passport knows the frustration — it often feels like starting all over again.
You fill out the same forms, submit the same documents, sit through another biometric capture, and wait for weeks as though you were applying for a brand-new passport. But should it really be this way?
In many parts of the world, passport renewal is one of the easiest government services to access.
In the US, qualified citizens can renew by mail without appearing in person. The UK and Canada allow online renewals that take minutes.
Even in Germany and across much of Europe, renewals are swift because citizens’ biometric data are already stored securely in national databases.
These countries have embraced a simple truth: renewing a passport should not mean reapplying for one.
Efficient systems recognise returning applicants, verify their identity instantly, and issue new passports without unnecessary repetition.
Unfortunately, Ghana’s process still reflects the old administrative culture — paperwork-heavy, manual and slow.
Though the Passport Office has made improvements, the system still treats renewals as new applications.
This approach drains resources, wastes time, and leaves citizens frustrated.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, under which the Passport Office operates, must take bold steps to change this.
The time has come for the Ministry, the National Identification Authority (NIA), and the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation to collaborate in building a truly integrated identity system that allows automatic verification of citizens.
With the Ghana Card now in place, there’s no reason a citizen should have to resubmit the same birth certificate, the same ID and the same biometrics every few years.
Renewals could easily be processed online using data already held by the NIA and authenticated by the Passport Office.
This would cut down queues, save costs and build citizens’ confidence in our public institutions.
Simplifying passport renewals is not just about convenience — it’s a sign of progress.
Ghana has the technology, the talent, and the digital infrastructure to do better.
What we need now is leadership, coordination, and the will to act.
It’s time for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Passport Office, and our digital governance bodies to embrace reform and bring Ghana’s passport renewal system into the 21st century.
Citizens deserve a service that reflects efficiency, trust, and respect for their time.
Renewing a Ghanaian passport should never feel like starting over. It should feel like progress.
The writer is an SDG advocate, passionate about public sector innovation and citizen-centred governance.
E-mail: mmedegli@gmail.com
