Passport fraud remains a challenge globally, with fraudulent documents enabling illegal immigration, identity theft, and terrorism. Adopting Chip-embedded passports significantly improves security, making it difficult for criminals to forge or alter documents.
Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has announced the transition from biometric passports to advanced chip-embedded travel documents. This initiative, unveiled on December 2, reflects Ghana’s dedication to enhancing security, improving efficiency, and aligning with international standards for travel documentation.
Sector Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey hailed the initiative as a significant milestone in Ghana’s digital transformation, emphasizing that the country, as the “gateway to Africa,” must lead in adopting advanced security technologies.
The new passports will feature embedded microprocessors to store biometric and photo data, enhancing security measures and preventing fraud. This upgrade aligns Ghana with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations and global standards for biometric identification.
The chip-embedded passports will include enhanced anti-fraud measures, such as latent and patent security indicators, and integrate an online system to streamline application and delivery processes. Infrastructure improvements will also be made at Passport Application Centres and Ghanaian Missions abroad to support the new system.
The project, initiated in 2016, is being executed through a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) agreement with Biometric Travel Solutions Limited, a Ghanaian firm. This rollout aims to accelerate passport issuance and combat illegal activities like extortion by intermediaries, commonly known as “Goro boys.” Through these measures, Ghana seeks to modernize its travel documentation and ensure compliance with global best practices.
Ghana has shown steady progress in digital transformation, with a focus on integrating technology into public services. The new passports align with this strategy, complementing existing efforts to modernize government processes.
As of December 2024, the Ghanaian passport ranks 142nd globally on the VisaGuide Passport Index. It allows visa-free travel to 46 countries, requires an eVisa for 19, and mandates visas for 140 destinations.
Hikmatu Bilali
