Confusion broke out at the passport office Thursday morning following accusations of bribe taking by enraged applicants against workers. They accused officials and security personnel of taking bribes to favour some applicants while others were left standing in long queues unattended to. Launched in March this year, the biometric passport is to afford Ghanaians travelling abroad easy entry. It is the most modern travelling document with features like electronic chip into which has been processed the thumbprint of holders and kept at a biometric Centre. Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister Mohammed Mumuni, who launched it, anticipated these challenges when he noted that “any rush for the biometric passports by even those with valid passports would put unnecessary pressure on the Passport Office”. Some applicants who spoke to Myjoyonline.com claimed they were being sidelined even though they had joined a long queue since 4am today. Others complained about the manner in which workers of the passport office go about their duties, that they are slow, and do not have any efficient system to cater for the many Ghanaians who had come there with varied requests – some to replace old passports to the new biometric ones, others now applying while others have applied and are at the stage of taking photographs.