24 Hours Economy To begin From Passport Office - Okudzeto Ablakwa

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced plans to extend working hours at the passport office, introducing day, night, and dawn shifts as part of the government's 24-hour economy initiative. This move aims to reduce waiting times for passports, with the goal of issuing passports within a week of application.

Ablakwa emphasized the need for efficient service delivery, stating that the 24-hour economy intervention will address current challenges. He also revealed plans to introduce chip-embedded passports and integrate passport data with the National Identification Authority system to streamline applicant verification.

The Minister's announcement is part of President John Mahama's push for a round-the-clock economy, which aims to improve passport processing, reduce delays, and create jobs. Ablakwa also advocated for fully digitalizing passport services and integrating biometric data across government institutions to eliminate duplication.

To achieve these goals, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will work with international partners to bring in technical experts and assist with merging biometric databases. Additionally, Ablakwa announced the establishment of a committee on Migration and Welfare of Ghanaians in the Diaspora to tackle the exploitation of Ghanaian migrant workers