Ghana on Monday officially began issuing Chip-embedded Passports, marking a major shift in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
The old biometric passports will remain valid until 2030, but holders can switch to the new chip-based version at any time before then, regardless of whether their current passports have expired.
The rollout is the result of a public-private partnership between the Government of Ghana and BTS Group.

Historic switch to secure travel documents
The official ceremony to mark the transition was performed by Mr. Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff at the Presidency, in Accra. Speaking at the launch, Mr. Debrah praised the leadership that made the long-delayed reform possible.
“If you are sent to a place and this process has been rolling for over 10 years, all it needed was for one person to grab the bull by the horns and make it happen,” he said, urging leaders to adopt bold, practical, and innovative approaches to reform.
Mr. Debrah also commended the collaboration between the Passport Office and Ghana Post to deliver over 70,000 previously uncollected passports directly to applicants via courier services, describing it as a practical innovation outside of traditional administrative procedures.

Leaders among the first recipients
Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, revealed that President John Dramani Mahama and former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo have already received their Chip-embedded Passports, with steps underway to issue one to former President John Agyekum Kufuor.
“Today is the day Ghana embarks on the most far-reaching and progressive passport reforms ever experienced in our country’s history,” Mr. Ablakwa declared.

Ending frustration and curbing corruption
The Minister highlighted how the new system would end the era of long waiting periods, “goro boys” (middlemen who illegally expedite services for a fee), and the backlog of uncollected passports.
“This is a reset and a new era of modernization, convenience, and respect for the Ghanaian visa applicant,” he said.

6 key reforms unveiled
As part of broader passport sector reforms, Mr. Ablakwa outlined six major changes such as transition to chip-embedded passports, introduction of 24-hour operations at the Passport Head Office, launch of direct passport delivery via courier services, led by Ghana Post and Troskit, activation of an E-Tracking System for applicants to monitor their applications in real-time, promise to deliver ordinary passport applications within 15 days and expedited applications within five days and reduction of application fees from GH₵500 to GH₵350, pending Parliamentary approval
He emphasized that these initiatives collectively mark a generational leap in Ghana’s document security and service delivery.

Security at the core of the new passport
Mr. Ablakwa explained that the Chip-embedded Passport uses a state-of-the-art multi-layer compressed polymer (polycarbonate) data page, featuring both latent and patent security technologies.
The polycarbonate material not only extends the passport’s lifespan but also drastically improves its resistance to forgery and unauthorized alterations.
“Given the dynamic evolution of crimes related to travel, security, and identity, the introduction of the Chip-embedded Polycarbonate passport is a significant national security achievement,” he noted.

Awaiting parliamentary approval for fee reduction
Touching on the cost of obtaining a passport, Mr. Ablakwa announced that the Cabinet had approved a reduction of the application fee from GH₵500 to GH₵300.
However, this adjustment awaits formal approval by Parliament before it can take effect.

A major leap forward
With the introduction of Chip-embedded Passports, Ghana takes a bold step into a future where security, efficiency, and citizen convenience are at the heart of public service.
The government’s pledge to modernize the passport process signifies not only compliance with international standards but also a firm commitment to meet the growing demands of a globally mobile population.