Passport Application Centre opens in Sefwi Wiawso
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has opened a new passport application centre in Sefwi Wiawso, the Western North Regional capital, marking a significant step in the government’s drive to decentralise public services.
The centre, which was opened last Tuesday, is designed to serve the Western North Region in line with the ministry’s strategic objective of making passport services a delight rather than the nightmare they were previously perceived to be.
It is expected to ease the burden on applicants who previously had to travel long distances to Takoradi, Kumasi or Accra to access passport services.
The ceremony was attended by several traditional authorities from across the Western North Region, including the chiefs and representatives from Sefwi Wiawso, Anhwiaso, and Bekwai traditional councils, underscoring broad community support for the initiative.
Convenience
At an inaugural ceremony at Sefwi Wiawso, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, James Gyakye Quayson, said the Sefwi Wiawso centre would help reduce travel costs, delays, and the frustrations associated with passport acquisition, while also curbing the activities of middlemen who exploit applicants.
Mr Quayson, who is also the Member of Parliament for Assin North, stated that for many years, residents of Sefwi Wiawso and surrounding districts were compelled to travel long distances — often to Kumasi or Takoradi — to access passport services.
These journeys, he emphasised, were not only costly and time-consuming but also disruptive to livelihoods, particularly for farmers and traders, whose daily economic activities could not easily be put on hold.
He added that, in some cases, these challenges created opportunities for unscrupulous middlemen to exploit applicants who were in desperate need of a Ghanaian passport.
“The inauguration of this centre is a deliberate response to these challenges and proof of the government’s commitment to bringing essential services closer to the people and urged staff of the centre to discharge their duties with professionalism, integrity, and efficiency,” he stated.
To demonstrate the centre's readiness, the minister personally presented a passport to an applicant who had completed the application process at the Sefwi Wiawso centre.
Equity, decentralisation
The Western North Regional Minister, Wilbert Petty Brentum, said the establishment of the passport application centre was not only a fulfilment of a long-standing aspiration of the people, but also a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to decentralisation, equitable development, and improved access to essential public services.
Some immigration officers at the newly opened Passport Application Centre at Sefwi Wiawso
He lamented that for many years, residents of the Western North Region had to travel long distances to access passport services, often at great cost and inconvenience.
“The opening of this centre right here in Sefwi Wiawso brings relief, dignity, and renewed hope to our people.
“It will save time, reduce financial burdens, and ensure that passport acquisition is more efficient, secure, and accessible,” Brentum said.
He further said the facility would contribute to enhanced national security, improved service delivery, and economic empowerment, especially for our youth, traders, students, and professionals who require passports for education, business, and international engagement.
The regional minister expressed appreciation to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and the entire management and staff of the Passport Office for making the project a reality.
