The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Reintegration has firmly announced that there will be no reconsideration of the recent adjustments made to passport application fees.
This decision follows comments from Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament and MP for North Tongu, who criticized the new fees as draconian.
The Minority Caucus in Parliament is reportedly pushing to reverse the fee changes.
Effective April 1, the Foreign Affairs Ministry raised the passport application fees to GH¢500 for the 32-page standard booklet and GH¢644 for the 48-page standard booklet.
Additionally, expedited services are now priced at GH¢700 for the 32-page option and GH¢800 for the 48-page option.
In response to Ablakwa’s call for a review of the fee adjustments, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, reiterated that the fees would remain unchanged.
In an interview monitored by ATLFM NEWS, Hon. Ampratwum revealed that the said increment was carefully examined and thoroughly underwent all legislative processes before its approval.
According to him, comments from the opposition NDC surprised him because no one disapproved of the increment in parliament.
He emphasized that most Ghanaians support the decision and the new fee is here to stay.
Ampratwum-Sarpong stated, “If he wants to bring it to Parliament, we will meet him on the floor of Parliament, we will discuss it and debate it.”
He further explained that the fee adjustment is towards investing in and improving service delivery.
He expressed confidence that Ablakwa’s efforts to challenge the fee changes would not succeed.
Ampratwum-Sarpong expressed the necessity of the adjustments for enhancing passport services and urged for understanding and support from the public in this regard.
“And at the end of the day, I can bet my last Cedi, he (Ablakwa) will fall flat on his face. The reason why we are introducing this, like I said, principally, is the fact that we need to invest and improve service delivery.”
Read more news @ atlfmnews.com
Source: Comfort Sweety Hayford/ATLFMNEWS
