The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced that the government has established a special passport centre to help process passports exclusively for Hajj applicants.
The purpose, according to the Minister, is to help streamline and expedite passport application process for pilgrims from Ghana.
Speaking at the Hajj Village Tuesday, March 04, 2025, the Minister explained that the initiative is part of the government’s commitment to ensuring Muslim pilgrims travel without challenges in during the sacred pilgrimage.
The centre will operate from Tuesday, 4th March, to Thursday, 13th March 2025.
“We are not oblivious of the fact that for many, securing travel documents promptly has been a major challenge. To address this, our ministry has set up this special passport centre, operational from March 4 to March 13, 2025, exclusively to serve Hajj applicants,” he stated.
He explained further that the development forms part of President Mahama’s vision to ensuring that all Ghanaians benefit from timely and efficient government services.
As part of the intervention, the cost of expedited passport processing has been reduced to make it more affordable for pilgrims.
“In collaboration with the government, we are pleased to announce that the cost of expedited passport processing has been subsidised. Instead of the usual GH¢700, applicants will now pay GH¢500 for a 32-page passport, which will be processed within just three (3) days,” Ablakwa disclosed.
He assured the pilgrim applicants of the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring they get a smooth service delivery throughout the period.
To ensure wider access beyond Accra, the Ministry is also setting up dedicated kiosks at various regional passport application centres to cater to applicants across the country.
“To extend this service to as many people as possible, we are also setting up dedicated kiosks at various regional passport application centres, ensuring that applicants outside Accra can also benefit from this initiative,” he stated.
The Muslim community, has, meanwhile, welcomed the move with many of the Hajj pilgrims lauding the government for introducing such a initiative to streamline and fasten the process for them.
Prospective Hajj pilgrims to pay GHC500 for expedited passport processing – Ablakwa
