Minority Accuses Gov’t of Causing $1.2M Loss Over ‘Redundant’ Passport Relaunch

The Minority in Parliament has accused the government of causing a $1.2 million financial loss to the state by undertaking what they deem an unnecessary relaunch of Ghana’s chip-embedded biometric passport.

According to the Minority, the initiative had already been fully completed and launched by the previous Akufo-Addo administration in December 2024, rendering the current government’s expenditure redundant and unjustified.

Deputy Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, addressing Parliament on Wednesday, July 9, claimed that the outgoing administration had finalized all necessary procedures, including securing supply credit, conducting system tests, and procuring 50,000 passport booklets with an additional standing order of 200,000.

“All the groundwork was done, and the official launch took place on December 2, 2024. These details are well documented at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” Ayeh stated.

He argued that the $1.2 million used for the relaunch could have been better invested in improving services and addressing operational challenges at passport offices nationwide.

The Minority also revisited the controversial three-day closure of Ghana’s embassy in Washington, DC, in May 2025, claiming it led to a loss of over $38,000 in expedited service fees. The closure, they said, resulted in the cancellation of 437 scheduled appointments and caused at least 112 travellers to miss their flights.

“On the morning of May 26, 2025, the embassy was shut, cancelling 437 confirmed appointments. This abrupt decision cost the state over $38,200 and disrupted the travel plans of more than a hundred Ghanaians,” Ayeh said.

The caucus is now demanding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs present a comprehensive audit report to Parliament detailing both the passport relaunch and the embassy shutdown, and provide compensation to affected individuals.