President Akufo-Addo Launches Ghana’s New Chip-Embedded Passport

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has launched Ghana’s new chip-embedded passport, marking a significant step in the country’s digital transformation.

The ceremony, held on December 2, 2024, in Accra, celebrates progress in modernizing Ghanaian travel documents and improving security. The new passport features advanced biometric technology, including a microchip that securely stores the holder’s biometric data, photograph, and other identifiers.

This design makes it highly secure and difficult for fraudsters or non-citizens to misuse. President Akufo-Addo described the e-Passport as more than a travel document, calling it a symbol of Ghana’s progress and readiness for the future.

He emphasized that the passport meets International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, ensuring global recognition for Ghanaian travelers. Key dignitaries, including Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, attended the event.

She presented the first chip-embedded passport to the President. The project was implemented through a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) partnership with Biometric Travel Solutions Limited, a Ghanaian firm. The passport’s design incorporates cultural elements like Adinkra symbols, such as “Fawohodie” (Freedom) and “Funtunfunefu Denkyemfunefu” (Unity), blending tradition with modern technology.

This innovation is expected to streamline passport issuance, enhance travel security, and improve application efficiency at Passport Application Centres and Ghanaian embassies worldwide. The launch underscores Ghana’s commitment to technological advancement and global integration.