Ghana to issue chip-embedded passports from next year

Ghana will from next year move from issuing biometric passports to chip-embedded ones to its citizens globally, Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, Hanna Tetteh, has announced.

This is to enable the country meet international standards, as well as make it possible for Ghanaians in the diaspora to acquire passport from Ghana’s 57 missions and consulates worldwide.

According to Hanna Tetteh, Ghanaians with the current biometric passport will also be required to upgrade to the chip-embedded ones which can be acquired locally from all the 10 regional passport application centres.

“What we are going to do is not to give you a biometric passport but rather to upgrade the system to begin to issue from next year, the chip embedded passport. We are therefore going through a procurement process to build up the infrastructure across all our embassies.

“That is our 57 missions and consulates, the passport office in Accra and ten regional passport application centres so that across all the embassies of Ghana, you will now be able to apply for what will be the chip embedded passport which is an upgrade on the biometric passport. What we will have in Japan is a data capturing centre. You will still have to fill a passport form but one of things we are doing is that we are putting the forms online. You will have to provide your supporting documentation, your birth certificate, information that proves you are who you say you are.”

She announced this during a meeting with the Ghanaian community in Tokyo, Japan.

Credit: Citifmonline.com