The Director of Passports, Mr. Kwesi Asante, has dismissed claims that Ghana’s new electronic passport will immediately phase out the existing biometric passport system. He assured Ghanaians that the transition will be gradual, with both passport types valid until 2030 or their expiration date.
Speaking on The Teknokrat Show on Focus FM with host Sika Audrey Dzifa, Mr. Asante clarified that the initiative is not a new policy of the current government, but rather the continuation of a program launched under the previous administration. “The NPP government launched it last year; the current administration has only implemented it.
It is not a new passport, just an upgraded version. We’ve added a chip to the biometric passport to enhance security,” he explained.
According to Mr. Asante, the upgraded passport, commonly referred to as the E-passport, offers significant improvements over the old version in terms of security. “The old booklet had 37 security features.
The E-passport has over 100. It also contains a visible Ghana map to establish ownership and reduce the risk of identity theft or duplication,” he stated.
The transition follows advice from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which urged member states to adopt chip-embedded passports. Ghana now joins 50 other African countries that have already implemented similar systems.
Mr. Asante noted that while the passport itself is not free, the delivery process will be cost-free. “Once applicants meet all requirements, the passport will be delivered to their doorstep within 15 working days by courier, without any extra delivery fee,” he assured.
He urged the public not to panic or rush to switch to the new E-passport, as both versions will remain valid for years to come.