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Okudzeto Ablakwa visits passport office headquarters and Accra PAC
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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.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has clarified that former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta remains the subject of criminal proceedings in Ghana and is still wanted under a valid arrest warrant issued by the High Court in Accra.
In a public notice, the OSP said it had taken note of a transcript of a hearing from a United States immigration court that has been circulated by some media organisations.
According to the office, the document has been interpreted by some to suggest that Mr. Ofori-Atta has not been credibly charged or linked to any wrongdoing in Ghana.
The OSP rejected that interpretation, explaining that it is not involved in Mr. Ofori-Atta’s immigration proceedings in the United States.
It said its involvement relates only to extradition proceedings, which are being handled through Ghana’s Attorney-General as the country’s central authority.
According to the OSP, the extradition documents are not before the US immigration court and the court has no authority to determine whether the criminal charges against Mr. Ofori-Atta are credible.
“The credibility or otherwise of the criminal charges against Mr. Ofori-Atta is a matter for determination by the courts in Ghana,” the OSP stated.
The office explained that there are three separate legal proceedings involving the former minister.
These include the immigration proceedings in the United States concerning his immigration status, extradition proceedings to determine whether he should be returned to Ghana, and the criminal case before the High Court in Accra involving corruption and corruption-related offences.
The OSP reiterated that Mr. Ofori-Atta remains before the High Court in Accra as an accused person and that a valid warrant has been issued for his arrest.
It maintained that he remains a fugitive from justice in Ghana and is required to appear before the High Court to answer the charges against him.
The Special Prosecutor also stressed that the criminal proceedings in Ghana would continue in accordance with the law and the directives of the High Court, whether or not Mr. Ofori-Atta is physically present in the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Telecel Ghana has announced that it has resolved the intermittent challenges that affected its voice and data services.
In a message to customers, the telecommunications company announced that its network services had been fully restored after experiencing temporary disruptions.
“We are pleased to inform you that intermittent challenges with our voice and data services have been resolved,” the company said.
Telecel apologised to customers for the inconvenience caused by the service interruptions and thanked them for their patience during the period.
“We appreciate your patience and apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused,” the company added.
The company assured customers of its commitment to providing reliable communication services under its slogan, “Connecting Energies.”
By: Jacob Aggrey
