A legal practitioner, Kweku Painstill says he supports the Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey’s intention to sift out overstaying officials at the passport office.

He raised concern that there is a pervasive increase in corruption in most public institutions where citizens need documents that are timebound. 

Speaking on JoyNews’ AM show, Mr Painstill stated that “These things are locked up in all kinds of institutions and places where we are supposed to get things according to certain timelines. So what the minister said is just the tip of the iceberg.”

The lawyer further noted that changing public officials is a normal thing done in all public administrations to prevent the pervasion of corruption in such public institutions.

He emphasised that the Minister’s statement must not be interpreted as ousting the overstaying officials at the passport office.

“I don't even understand her to mean that they are necessarily going to be sacked, but then they are going to be shifted over the place,” Mr Painstill further explained.

These remarks follow an announcement made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday,  August 14 that she intends to lay off officials who have been at the passport office for more than a year.

 This is a result of the rife in activities of corruption and extortion at the Passport Office.

The Minister bemoaned that certain civil officials who abuse the online application system for their own advantage have hampered current efforts to digitally streamline procedures at the Passport Office.

She then urged workers at the Passport Office to refrain from indulging in unethical conduct.

Madam Botchwey also warned that individuals who upon investigation are discovered to be engaging in such unscrupulous practices will face legal action.