Minority to push for the reversal of ‘draconian’ passport application fees – Ablakwa
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament and MP for the North Tongu Constituency, has strongly criticized the new passport application fees implemented by Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, describing them as “draconian.”
He has vowed that the NDC Minority in Parliament will push for the reversal of these fees.
In a Facebook post, Ablakwa expressed disappointment in the Ministry for imposing what he views as exorbitant fees, especially considering the current economic crisis and high cost of living in the country. He indicated that he and his NDC colleagues had advocated for a more gradual approach to fee increases, but their advice was ignored by the Ministry.
Ablakwa emphasized that the Ministry’s decision to implement significant fee hikes in one go is insensitive to the economic challenges facing many Ghanaians. He called on the Ministry to reconsider its decision immediately and indicated that the issue would be revisited when Parliament resumes from recess.
Background information provided indicates that the new passport application fees, which have seen significant increases, were included in the Ministry’s 2024 Budget estimates document and subsequently approved by Parliament’s Subsidiary Legislation Committee. The fee hikes were attributed to the need to reduce losses in passport booklet printing and bring Ghana’s passport fees more in line with those of other countries in the sub-region.
Despite Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey’s argument that the current passport fees were unsustainable and among the lowest in the sub-region, critics like Ablakwa argue that the sudden and steep fee increases are unjustified and burdensome for ordinary Ghanaians.
Overall, Ablakwa’s comments reflect the opposition’s stance against the new passport application fees and their intention to challenge them through parliamentary processes.
