Former Deputy Foreign Minister Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong has dismissed Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s proposal to introduce a 24-hour passport processing system, calling it unnecessary and misleading.
According to the Mampong MP, a similar initiative aimed at modernizing Ghana’s passport services has been in progress for two years with funding from the World Bank under a Public Sector Reform Program.
“The reality is that a project to modernize passport services has been ongoing for the past two years,” Ampratwum-Sarpong stated. “This initiative, funded by the World Bank, has already identified the passport office as a priority area for improvement, and significant progress has been made.”
He explained that efforts have already been made to digitize the passport application process, clear backlogs, and address the issue of nearly 40,000 unclaimed passports.
“The passport office has employed multiple strategies, including call centers, courier services, postal delivery, and direct visitations, to ensure applicants receive their documents,” he noted.
While acknowledging some remaining challenges—such as incorrect contact details, outdated addresses, and fraudulent information in applications—Ampratwum-Sarpong insisted that Ablakwa’s proposal was not introducing anything groundbreaking.
“The wheel has already been invented and is in motion,” he stressed. “Rather than presenting this as an innovative solution, it would be more beneficial to support the ongoing efforts and address existing challenges with improved coordination and funding.”
On the Consular Fund, which is meant to assist Ghanaians in the diaspora during emergencies, the former deputy minister argued that Ablakwa was merely repackaging an existing initiative.
“The fund has already been set up, and operational modalities are in place,” he revealed. “The only remaining hurdle is the release of the $2 million seed money from the Ministry of Finance into the external operations account of the Consular Fund.”
He urged the current government to focus on practical solutions rather than what he described as political grandstanding.
“The real issue is ensuring that the Minister, Ablakwa, successfully convinces his counterpart at the Finance Ministry to release these funds,” he asserted.
Ampratwum-Sarpong further revealed that had the NPP won the 2024 elections, they had already planned to allocate the $2 million in the next budget cycle.
“This was a manifesto pledge,” he stated.
He concluded by emphasizing that the priority should be delivering tangible results rather than making grand announcements.
“Instead of political fanfare, the focus should be on executing ongoing projects efficiently for the benefit of Ghanaians,” he said.
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