The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced the establishment of a special passport centre exclusively for Hajj applicants. The centre aims to streamline and expedite the passport application process for Ghanaian pilgrims.

Speaking at the Hajj Village on Tuesday, 4th March, Mr Ablakwa explained that this initiative is part of the government’s commitment to ensuring a seamless travel experience for Muslims undertaking the sacred pilgrimage.

The centre will operate from Tuesday, 4th March, to Thursday, 13th March 2025.

Highlighting the government’s commitment to improving accessibility to essential services, Mr Ablakwa stated, “We are not oblivious of the fact that for many, securing travel documents promptly has been a major challenge. To address this, our ministry has set up this special passport centre, operational from March 4 to March 13, 2025, exclusively to serve Hajj applicants.”

He added that this initiative reflects President John Dramani Mahama’s dedication to ensuring that all Ghanaians receive timely and efficient government services regardless of their background.

As part of the intervention, the cost of expedited passport processing has been reduced to make it more affordable for pilgrims.

“In collaboration with the government, we are pleased to announce that the cost of expedited passport processing has been subsidised. Instead of the usual GH¢700, applicants will now pay GH¢500 for a 32-page passport, which will be processed within just three (3) days,” Mr Ablakwa revealed.

He assured applicants that the Foreign Ministry is fully committed to ensuring smooth and efficient service delivery throughout the period.

To ensure wider access beyond Accra, the Ministry is also setting up dedicated kiosks at various regional passport application centres to cater to applicants across the country.

“To extend this service to as many people as possible, we are also setting up dedicated kiosks at various regional passport application centres, ensuring that applicants outside Accra can also benefit from this initiative,” he stated.

The move has been widely welcomed by the Muslim community, with many praising the government’s proactive approach in easing travel preparations for Hajj pilgrims.