The Director of the Passports Office has mounted a fierce defence against claims that the office is yet to process applications from the early months of 2018.

Amanor Daku Mantey said the Passports Office, as far as he is concerned, has completed all applications dating back to February 2018.

He added that the only backlog the office has had as of August is from May 2018. Any claim from a customer that they applied dating back to February, and have not received their passport should be treated with doubt, Mr Amanor noted.

“If there is any such case, they should come to the office and ask to see me [the director], he told CITI FM Monday.

Speaking on the recent delays in procuring passports, Mr Amanor explained that there has been a recent shortage of passport books but that has since been resolved.

“The issue has to do with supply,” he stated. However, he would have to consult with the Minister before clarifying the delayed supply, he added.

 Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Foreign Affairs Minister

He explained that the office does relay this information to the affected persons via the media.

“We have communicated to them via media houses,” he said.

The director also laid blame with applicants and the use of the middle man as the reason the delays have occurred. 

Read: Foreign Minister works ‘miracle’ at Passport Office; issues passport in 10 mins

He said that some applicants do not fill their forms correctly so after the passports are fully processed, the office has problems contacting the owners.

“We will publish names of uncollected passports soon,” he said. He also noted that the office has put in place some software “that tells you when to come for the passport and gives you the passport number.”

Some of them also use the "goro boys" (middle men) and these people lie to them just to exploit them, he noted.

Mr Amanor speaking on the work the office has so far noted that they issue about 1,500 to some 2,000 passports a day.

Under his leadership, the office also met a backlog of 32,000 applications but that has since been reduced to less than 20,000, he touted.

Commenting on the crowd that is ever present at the passport office, the director simply noted that his office is working to clear that and also remove the "goro boys" from their premises.

When you remove them, they come back,” he lamented.