Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey dismisses long-serving officers at Accra passport office
In response to concerns of alleged corruption and illicit activities within the passport issuance system, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has taken decisive action to address the issue.
She has dismissed overstaying officers and agency representatives at various passport offices in the Greater Accra region.
During a media briefing on August 14, 2023, Minister Ayorkor Botchwey announced that the decision would take effect from August 21, 2023, and is part of efforts to reform the passport application centers. The move aims to counteract the growing trend of overstaying officers colluding with unauthorized intermediaries, known as “goro people,” to exploit passport applicants by charging exorbitant fees for expedited services.
The minister expressed her concern over reports of such activities and emphasized that the involvement of unauthorized intermediaries had led to inflated fees for passport services. She stated, “How can 100 Ghana cedis for standard service of passport acquisition and 150 for expedited service be bumped up to 2,000 and 3,000? I hear they don’t even charge 2,000 now they are charging 3,000 and it is wrong.”
Minister Ayorkor Botchwey also highlighted the need for agencies to rotate their staff and avoid keeping them in one role for too long, in order to prevent corruption and ensure accountability.
This move reflects the government’s commitment to tackling corruption and ensuring transparency within the passport issuance system, ultimately enhancing public trust and maintaining the integrity of the process.
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