The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has commissioned a Satellite Passport Application Centre at the Hajj Village in Accra.
The new centre will help to streamline passport processing for Ghanaian Hajj pilgrims.
The initiative, the first of its kind in Ghana’s Hajj history, is aimed at easing the often cumbersome process of acquiring passports for pilgrims.
The launch event was attended by key dignitaries, including the Chairman of the Hajj Board, Hon. Alhaji Collins Dauda, Alhaji A. B. A. Fuseini, members of the Hajj Task Force, the Director of Passports, Mr. Kwasi Asante, senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hajj agents, media representatives, and members of the Muslim community.
In his address, Hon. Ablakwa expressed his gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for supporting the initiative, which seeks to ensure a smoother experience for prospective Hajj travellers.
He announced that pilgrims from other regions of Ghana would not be left out, as special “Hajj Booths” have been introduced in all regional passport offices to cater to their needs.
The Minister assured the public that passports would be issued within three days of completing the application process, with no additional cost to applicants.
He also outlined broader government plans for passport system reforms, including a 24-hour passport processing service and home delivery of passports. These measures, he noted, would eliminate the influence of middlemen (commonly referred to as “goro boys”) and enhance efficiency in passport issuance.
The Director of Passports, Mr. Kwasi Asante, commended the Minister for his swift action in implementing the Satellite Passport Centre, describing it as an unprecedented move to support the Hajj pilgrimage process.
Hon. Alhaji Collins Dauda, Chairman of the Hajj Task Force, expressed appreciation on behalf of the Muslim community, lauding the initiative as a significant step in addressing the challenges faced by pilgrims.
A representative of Hajj Travel Agents, Alhaji Ashkar, also welcomed the initiative, acknowledging that this was the first time a Foreign Minister had visited the Hajj Village. However, he raised concerns about difficulties faced by pilgrims from the Fula and Zamrama communities regarding nationality determination. He further called for a resolution to the ongoing strike by the Births and Deaths Registry, which has affected passport applications, and inquired about the possible use of the Ghana Card as an alternative.
With this new development, Ghanaian Hajj pilgrims can now expect a more seamless passport application process, reinforcing the government’s commitment to improving public service delivery.
