Decentralize passport acquisition process to tackle goro boys – John Dumelo

The Parliamentary Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2024 general elections, John Dumelo has asked the government to decentralize the process of acquiring passports in Ghana.

He wants the passport to be printed from all the regional capitals in order to deal with the issue of middlemen (Goro boys) effectively.

His comments come at a time the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey sacked some officers at the passport office for aiding Goro boys to charge between GHS2000 and GHS3000 for passports whereas standard and expedited services should cost GHS100, and GHS150 cedis respectively.

“This particular visit has become very necessary because of some reports that I have. Reports that officers …are involved in illegal activities.

“When I say illegal activities we all know. Just two days ago the reports in the Daily Guide newspaper that the issue of goro people involved in our passport acquisition process has become rife.

“It is wrong. How can One Hundred Ghana Cedis for standard service to acquire a passport and One Hundred and Fisty Cedis for expedited service be bumped up to GHS2000 and GHS3000, it is wrong.

“The goro boys are outside the passport office, they need somebody inside to work with, they cannot do it on their own. People are paying GHS2000, or GHS3000 to acquire a passport? Why should this be so?” The Minister told the press after an unannounced visit to the passport office in Accra on Monday August 14.

Speaking on this matter on the Ghana Toinight show, Mr John Dumelo said “It is quite frustrating, sometimes you have to pay, you have to make a call that before you acquire a passort.I feel it should not be like

Why not decentralsied the application and acquisition process?

“Why don’t you print in Cape Caost, Kumasi and North so that you don’t have to go through these process.”