Plans to switch from biometric passports to new chip-embedded documents have been revealed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
This initiative demonstrates a genuine dedication to efficiency, security, and adherence to international standards, said Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Sector Minister.
Speaking at a ceremony to introduce the upgraded travel document at the Accra International Conference Centre, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey called the chip-embedded passport’s debut a “major milestone” in Ghana’s digitalization program.
She underlined that the new features were thoughtfully created to improve security and make travel easier for Ghanaians.
Along with special security features like anti-fraud measures and both latent and active security features, the new travel document has a microprocessor that records the holder’s biometric and photo information.
A Build, Operate, and Transfer agreement with Biometric Travel Solutions Limited, a private Ghanaian company, will be used to implement the chip-embedded passport project, which was started in 2016.
The goal of this project is to fully align Ghanaian passports with the rapidly changing international interoperability standards for biometric identification as well as the laws of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
In order to improve efficiency and effectiveness at Ghana’s missions overseas and at Passport Application Centers (PACs), the Ministry has simplified its passport application procedure as part of the project.
Through the creation, development, and deployment of an integrated online passport application and delivery system, the program seeks to enhance people’ overall passport application experiences. In order to enable PAC operations, it also entails improving operating protocols, introducing appropriate technology, and providing the infrastructure that is required.
The goal of this modernization initiative is to reduce citizen extortion and exploitation and put an end to the “Goro boys'” actions.
