Ghana is readying to issue chip-embedded passport

desmond frimpong

September 28, 2017 10:07 AM

Ghana is set to roll out new chip-embedded passports for its citizens

Ghana is racing against time to meet the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) ultimatum by 2017 to upgrade its passport to meet global standards.

The West African country hopes that the successful rollout of its national ID system will significantly enhance its operations and stem the illegal acquisition of Ghanaian passports by foreigners.

Addressing the press the Director of Passports in Ghana, Emmanuel Enos announced that the authority is readying to issue chip-embedded passports to further enhance the security of the travel document and make it a lot more difficult for it to be faked.

"With the biometric passports that we are using now, the security features are enormous even though it is not up to the e-passports which is where we want to get to," said the passports office.

Director of Passports, Emmanuel Enos added that his outfit currently processes between up to 300 passports every day and acquisition of a passport possible in three days.

A newly introduced online passport application platform is enabling Ghanaians in the diaspora whose passports are about to expire and who are planning to return home could easily apply for a Ghanaian passport through the online portal prior to their return home.

desmond frimpong