President Akufo-Addo has officially launched Ghana’s new chip-embedded passport on the 2nd of December,2024, a significant advancement in the country’s travel documentation system, during a ceremony held in Accra.
The new passport is an upgraded version which is embedded with a microprocessor chip containing the holder’s biometric data.
The new passport project is handled by local company called Biometric Travel Solutions Ltd under a Build-Operate and Transfer arrangement.
The company, which is an official partner of the Foreign Ministry, will work with a Hungarian security printing firm, ANY Security Printing Company Plc to print the passports for the next 10 years.
President Akufo-Addo described the project as one of the hallmarks of the country’s digital transformation and modernization efforts led by Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, noting that the redesigned travel credential comes with enhanced features for improved security and ease of travel.
“The e-Passport is not just a travel document; it is a symbol of our progress, resilience, and readiness to embrace the future with confidence. This achievement underscores the strategic importance of public-private partnerships in driving national development,” the president said.
He added that the move is part of an ongoing process to digitize and streamline administrative processes and ease access to public services.
The document is also designed with elements that represent key Ghanaian values, symbols and culture. These include Adinkra symbols such as “Fawohodie” (Freedom and Independence) and “Funtunfunefu Denkyemfunefu” (Democracy and Cooperation).
Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, who also spoke at the launch, emphasized the security advantages of the new passport, saying it will curb identity theft and make tampering difficult.
Beyond security, the minister said the new document has been designed in a way to reduce the turn-around time needed to obtain it. She said other steps are also being taken to facilitate the application process for the passport.
The Minister said the transition to an upgraded passport underscores not only the government’s quest for efficiency, but also the need to align with international standards in the domain of travel documents prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
“The Government of Ghana has been working assiduously to make its digitization agenda, under the able leadership of the Vice President, a reality through various initiatives. The chip-embedded passport that we are launching today is a major milestone in this journey and boasts of several state-of-the-art features carefully designed to enhance its security and facilitate ease of travel for Ghanaian citizens,” Shirley Botchwey said.
“By the introduction of the chip-embedded passport, Ghana is poised to be at the forefront of modern technology within the African sub-region, shortening the turn-around time for passport issuance, while making travel safer, and more secure for all citizens,” she added
As part of its digital transformation drive, Ghana rolled out a CitizenApp in October to facilitate access to government services digitally.