On April 28, 2025, the Republic of Ghana’s passport administration launched the mass rollout of its new, chip-embedded passport. While a limited number of the new e-passports was launched on December 2, 2024, the credential is now being issued to applicants on a nationwide basis.
Ghana’s e-passport meets the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The passport features advanced biometric capabilities and is designed to strengthen travel document security.
The new passport is accompanied by what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls “a full suite of progressive reforms designed to modernize passport acquisition, enhance security, and provide citizens with a better passport acquisition experience.” The goal of the new passport and issuance system is to make it more convenient and efficient for residents to acquire passports.
The passport was last redesigned in 2010. While rumors about the West African nation issuing a modern, chip-based passport date back to 2020, only now is that goal being realized.
Ghana’s New e-Passport
According to the Ministry, “As Ghana rolls out its first Chip-embedded Polycarbonate (PC) biographical data-page passport, equipped with the highest latent and patent security inputs, the sector players, end users and regulators within the document security management setup are assured of robust security features that are almost impossible to forge”.
Ghana will no longer issue biometric passports of the previous design. According to the ICAO, current passports will be outdated by 2030. Until then, it is assumed that previously issued passports shall be valid until the stated expiry date.
Sources/References:
Republic of Ghana, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Modern Ghana
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