Chip-Embedded Passport Rollout Fully Handled by Akufo-Addo Administration – Abu Jinapor

Samuel A. Jinapor, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, has asserted that the successful implementation of Ghana’s chip-embedded passport program was entirely executed under the Akufo-Addo government, countering claims that attribute the initiative to the current administration.

In a statement issued on May 6, 2025, Jinapor traced the origins and development of the project, emphasizing that all core activities—including planning, procurement, and execution—were completed prior to the handover of power on January 7, 2025. He criticized recent efforts to re-launch the initiative as both misleading and redundant.

“The policy groundwork, contracting process, and delivery logistics were all finalized before the Akufo-Addo administration left office,” he stressed.

Jinapor explained that the project aligned with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) 2013 TRIP Strategy, which advocated for electronic travel documents. While initial discussions began earlier, he credited the Akufo-Addo government with advancing the initiative significantly from 2017 onward as part of its digitalization drive.

He detailed how a competitive selection process led to a partnership between 25th Century Technology Limited and Buck Press Limited—forming Biometric Travel Solutions Limited—to implement the project through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) that eased fiscal pressure on the state.

By December 2, 2024, the chip-embedded passports had been formally launched by President Akufo-Addo, with key officials receiving the first copies. At that point, 50,000 passports were in stock and another 200,000 were on order, ensuring readiness for national deployment.

“This achievement is the result of the Akufo-Addo Government’s diligent work,” Jinapor stated, urging the current administration to focus on distribution rather than seek undue recognition.

He labeled the present government’s re-launch of the program as wasteful and misleading, arguing that it misrepresents the project’s true origin and undermines public accountability.

The Minority in Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Jinapor concluded, remains dedicated to ensuring transparency and protecting the historical record.