The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is stepping up efforts to establish the Mobile Passport Application Centre for more effective and efficient service delivery, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. He mentioned that Parliament will soon consider an appropriate fee for launching the Mobile Passport Application Centre. This initiative aims to make services more accessible to institutions and individual applicants who wish to have their biodata captured conveniently at their own locations.
Mr. Ablakwa made these comments during his visit to the Ashanti Regional Passport Application Centre on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. The visit was part of his ongoing efforts to understand the realities on the ground and to gain firsthand insights into the challenges faced by the centre. Initially a temporary service, the Mobile Passport Application Centre is now expected to become a permanent fixture of the passport application services provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It will have its own dedicated staff to ensure specialised service delivery. This mobile passport office can visit localities and institutions upon request, offering the same services available at standard Passport Application Centre offices. The initiative is designed to reduce wait times and better serve people in regions, districts, educational campuses, and during special outreach programs.
New passport centre
The Minister announced that a second Passport Application Centre will be established in the Ashanti Region by the first quarter of 2027. Mr. Ablakwa explained that the region’s large population has put significant strain on both staff and equipment, making the new centre necessary. He mentioned that construction is progressing on the new centre located in Ashanti Mampong, which aims to alleviate the burden and reduce the risks associated with applicants having to travel long distances for their scheduled biometric capture dates.
This new centre will complement the seven centres that were opened last year in the Upper East Region and the six newly created regions. Mr. Ablakwa expressed optimism that once the new passport office is fully operational, it will create opportunities to increase the Ministry’s internally generated funds.
Innovation
Mr Ablakwa explained that the initiative is an innovative approach designed to generate revenue to support the development of new facilities and the renovation of existing Passport Application Centres across the country. He noted that available data indicate a significant increase in revenue following the introduction of the new measures compared with previous years. However, he acknowledged that further efforts were needed to improve passport services and enhance service delivery to the public.
As part of measures to strengthen operations and improve staff mobility for official assignments, the Minister disclosed that the Ministry had procured 20 pick-up vehicles for Passport Application Centres nationwide. He described the acquisition as part of a broader strategy to modernise passport offices and improve working conditions across the country.
Mr Ablakwa further observed that some vehicles currently in use at the centres had become inefficient and required replacement. He stressed the need to upgrade essential equipment, including computers and office furniture, to enhance operational efficiency and improve service delivery.
The Minister said his visit was intended to obtain a firsthand assessment of conditions at the centres and verify their operational status, particularly in view of the daily reports his office receives regarding their activities.
Assurance
Mr. Ablakwa assured the staff that their welfare would remain a top priority. He emphasised his commitment to creating a conducive working environment that would enable them to perform at their best and deliver efficient services to the public. He urged the staff to expedite the transfer of the finalised processes for every application to ensure that passports are delivered within the stipulated 15 working days. Additionally, he encouraged staff to take extra care with elderly applicants and to provide excellent customer service to all applicants, reinforcing the public goodwill towards the recent reforms.
