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Okudzeto Ablakwa visits passport office headquarters and Accra PAC
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP), undertook a tour of the Passport Office Headquarters, Ridge, and the Accra Regional Passport Application Center (Accra PAC) on February 19, 2025.
At both Offices, the Minister was given an in-depth tour of the facilities, where he was introduced to the various stages of the passport processing system, including the latest advancement in chip-embedded passport technology.
The Minister took the opportunity to interact with the staff. He, on behalf of His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama expressed appreciation for their dedication and service.
As part of his commitment to improving service delivery, the Minister outlined plans to introduce a 3-schedule shift system to clear the existing backlog of passport applications.
He also hinted at an increase in staff strength at the passport offices, upgrade and better equip the place to meet the growing demand.
Mr.Ablakwa further informed of an expansion of the office facilities, improved security, and enhanced transportation options, all aimed at ensuring staff productivity and efficiency.
In a bid to make passport services more accessible, Ablakwa announced that the government was exploring ways to subsidize the cost of obtaining a standard 32-page ordinary passport.
Additionally, he revealed plans to introduce premium passport services at a relatively higher cost, designed to offer faster processing time for those with urgent travel needs.
Addressing the passport processing timeline, the Minister stated that while the current duration had already been reduced to four weeks, efforts would be made to shorten it further, aiming for a one-week turnaround in the near future.
News
NPP National Chairman, Stephen Ntim takes temporary break from his duties
Family of New Patriotic Party (NPP)National Chairman, Stephen Ntim, have requested for him to be excused from official duties and active politics until further notice on health grounds.
In a letter to the party, the family of Mr.Ntim expressed his lifetime commitment and dedication to NPP for decades, rising through the ranks from 1st National Deputy Chairman to his distinguished service as the current National Chairman.
“At this juncture, we the family members of Mr. Stephen Ntim have learned that the party has convened a meeting scheduled to be chaired by Mr. Ntim and wewould like our beloved son, brother, nephew and relative, Stephen Ntim, to be excused from attendance of this event, due to recent developments on his health and well being beginning from June 16, 2025,” they added .
The family further revealed that Mr. Ntim is not well at the moment
and his condition requires time off from active professional activities in the interest of medical attention and monitoring for the time being.
According to the family, “in compliance with his professional medical advice and in cognizanced
of his demanding office, we the family members do hereby request that Mr. Ntim be temporarily excused, not only from active office duty, but also from outright party politics until further notice.”
“As with any human, even merely participating in such event will not augur well for Steve due to his current cognitive dissonance and mental incapacitation for such
a high profile event at a time like this, not to even factor in chairing it and we the family members reject this wrong move in the subtly back drop of his personal human rights,” they disclosed.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Read full statement below
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SEND Ghana engage Gender Minister for strategic dialogue on social protection and gender equality
A delegation from SEND Ghana visited the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, to discuss collaboration on gender equality, social protection, and economic empowerment.
SEND Ghana, known for its policy advocacy and equitable development efforts, works closely with farmers and empowers young women aged 18–35 through Mastercard Foundation-supported projects focused on livelihood and agricultural support.
The Minister welcomed SEND Ghana’s initiatives and highlighted the Ministry’s alignment with their priorities.
She reaffirmed that social protection is a top priority under President John Mahama’s government and emphasized ongoing efforts to expand coverage and enhance service delivery through flagship programmes like Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), which remains vital for vulnerable households.
Regarding the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), the Minister noted plans to introduce legislation to ensure its sustainability and improve the nutritional quality of school meals.
She praised civil society’s role in monitoring local implementation.
The Minister also voiced strong support for menstrual hygiene and reproductive health campaigns, stressing education and access to sanitary products for adolescent girls, and encouraged efforts to break menstrual taboos and keep girls in school.
Broader gender issues discussed included reducing unpaid care work, promoting gender-sensitive leave policies (maternity and paternity leave), and boosting women’s economic opportunities.
Both parties agreed on the need to build gender-responsive systems that empower women socially and economically.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to work together for inclusive development, gender equity, and stronger social protection systems in Ghana.
