Ghana has officially scrapped its previous biometric passport system and ushered in a new generation of travel documents embedded with electronic chips, taking effect from April 28, 2025.
The updated passports promise tighter security and reduced processing delays for travelers.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that nearly 30,000 applications remain stuck in the now-outdated system. Within that figure, about 7,900 applicants already paid the necessary fees but never completed the process.
Those individuals won’t have to pay again. Instead, they’re expected to resume their applications on the newly launched platform at passport.mfa.gov.gh, where instructions have been provided to finalize the pending steps.
To ensure a smooth transition, the Ministry has introduced a set of rules for anyone affected:
- All applications started under the old setup must be completed within three months.
- People who already scheduled appointments before the switch should still attend their designated Passport Application Centres to provide biometric data.
- Anyone who missed their appointment on April 28 or 29 should report to their chosen centre for further directions.
This overhaul forms part of a national initiative to modernize passport services and raise document security standards. The public is strongly encouraged to act swiftly to avoid delays or complications.
