Ghana’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Julius Debrah has called on all appointees across various institutions to allow common sense and innovation to guide their actions and decisions.
Speaking at the Passport Head Office during the official unveiling of Ghana’s new chip-embedded passport on Monday, 28th April 2025, Mr. Debrah emphasized that serving the nation is a privilege and with that comes the responsibility to be practical and forward-thinking.
Addressing the gathering, he stated, “The last thing that I want to talk about is all my colleagues that have been privileged to serve at various institutions, we should always let common sense prevail. Be very practicable, be very innovative. That is what brings progress to governance. On that note, I duly launch the embedded passport today.”
Mr. Debrah highlighted that innovation and practicality are crucial drivers of progress in governance, urging public servants to embrace these values to help transform public service delivery.
The launch event also showcased the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ new biometric passport initiative. The chip-embedded passport is designed to enhance security features, eliminate the influence of middlemen, and improve transparency throughout the passport application process.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to providing a seamless, citizen-centric passport service that is accessible to all Ghanaians while minimizing opportunities for third-party interference.
The introduction of the chip-embedded passport is part of a broader set of reforms being rolled out this year. These include the implementation of 24-hour passport office operations, courier delivery of passports, e-tracking services to monitor application progress, and a 30 per cent reduction in application fees.
Already adopted by several countries worldwide, the chip-embedded passport securely stores biometric information in a microchip, offering robust protection against identity theft and fraud.
Mr. Debrah described the rollout as a major milestone in Ghana’s efforts to modernize its passport system, positioning the country to meet international standards in travel documentation and security.
By: Akora Kofi Darko
