The Ghana passport office is to begin an online application by the end of 2015 to free the system of people who act as middlemen and end up frustrating unsuspecting applicants.
According to the director of passports, Alexander Grant –Ntrakwa, the only setback preventing the online system from rolling out is an effective payment platform.
He said applicants would receive text messages to update them about the process adding that by the end of this year, frustrations associated with acquiring a passport would end.
Interacting with the media in Accra, Mr. Ntrakwah said: “The good news is that plans are far advanced for the passport office to deploy online. The pilot project was done with NITA as far back as 17 December, 2014. On that day we managed to get six applicants to apply online and within three days they got their passport.”
He challenged applicants who have been exploited by staff to report for immediate action to be taken. He was worried about activities of middlemen and cautioned applicants.
He indicated that discussions are far advanced with some banks to help in the deployment of the online platform.
He added that “as soon as we get the green light, we have a timeline for ourselves and before the year ends, passport office will be online and it will make it easier for everybody to apply. You go online, you apply and you are given your appointment date, you go to the centre and you are captured and you go.”
He emphasized the passport office located at Ridge is not a passport application centre hence all dealings should be done at other offices. Over 40,000 passports have been printed since May 2015.
Already there are concerns from sections of the public that going online would make it difficult for them to apply since many of them are not I.T savvy.
