The Minority in Parliament has alleged that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and the President Mahama administration have caused financial loss to the state for relaunching the Chip-embedded Ghanaian Biometric passport.
The Minority averred that the project had already been launched under the erstwhile administration of President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, thus making the current administration’s expenditure unnecessary.
This was disclosed by the Deputy Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee of Parliament, Nana Asafo-Adjei, during a press briefing on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
According to him, the outgone government secured supply credit, completed all testing, and formally launched the chip-embedded passport on December 2, 2024.
The Bosome Freho lawmaker said, “The outgoing government secured supply credit, completed all testing, and formally launched the chip-embedded passport on December 2, 2024. They secured 50,000 booklets and a standing order of 200,000. This is all on record at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
He argued that the $1.2 million spent on the relaunch could have been channelled into improving service delivery and addressing logistical challenges at passport offices across the country.
The caucus also revisited the issue of the sudden three-day closure of Ghana’s embassy in Washington, DC, in May 2025, which they say resulted in a loss of over $38,000 in expedited service fees. The closure led to the cancellation of 437 appointments and caused at least 112 travellers to miss their connecting flights.
“By dawn, May 26th, 2025, the embassy doors were closed, and 437 confirmed applicants for the week had been cancelled. In three days, the Minister’s decision cost Ghana over $38,200 in expedited service fees and forced at least 112 travellers to miss their connecting flights,” he said.
The minority has therefore demanded the presence of the sector minister and to present a full audit report to the floor of Parliament on both incidents, as well as provide compensation for individuals affected by the Embassy shutdown.
