Increment in passport application fees was expected but the margin is too high – Gyampo

A Professor at the University of Ghana, Ransford Gyampo has said that he was in favour of the increment in the passport application fees.

Given that the cost of production has increased, he said, an increment in the fees was expected.

However, he said he has a problem with the margin of increment, after stating that is too high.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry, in an April 1 statement, announced the increase in application fees for all passport categories.

New Passport fees: No serious business will buy something for GHC400 and sell it for GHC100 – Dep. Foreign Affairs Minister

The fee increment has seen a 32-page standard passport move from GHC100 to GHC500 and GHC644 for a 48-page standard booklet, effective today, Monday, April 1, 2024.

In the same vein, applicants opting for the 32-page expedited service will pay GHC700 and GHC800 for the 48-page expedited service.

The over 500 percent increments have since sparked public concerns, with the minority in Parliament threatening to “trigger a process to revisit the new fees” when the House resumes from recess.

Speaking on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, April 6, Prof Gyampo said “I favour some increment and I believe that the good people of Ghana will appreciate that if things have things have gone up so we should adjust a little. 400 percent we were expecting some adjustment but the 400 percent was too much.”