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Prospective Hajj Pilgrims to obtain passport at Hajj Village- Okudzeto Ablakwa
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said that for the first time, prospective Hajj pilgrims can conveniently obtain their passport at the Hajj Village.
According to him, it will take a maximum of three days for their passports to be processed.
In a post on Facebook today, he said, passport applicants do not need to pay additional fees for this special intervention.
He noted that the initiative is part of the of passport reforms under President Mahama’s Reset Agenda to enhance efficiency, modernize passport application processes and improve convenience for the general public
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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For the first time in our nation’s history, prospective hajj pilgrims can conveniently obtain their passports at the Hajj Village.
It will take a maximum of 3 days for their passports to be processed.
The passport applicants do not need to pay additional fees for this special intervention.
This initiative is part of ongoing passport reforms under President Mahama’s Reset Agenda to enhance efficiency, modernize passport application processes and improve convenience for the general public.
This novel mobile service will now be available to large groups, which will include religious organizations, educational institutions, corporate Ghana and travel agencies upon request.
The Foreign Ministry has also created special desks at all Passport Application Centres across the country to take care of the estimated 5,000 Ghanaian Muslims expected to participate in the 2025 Hajj without compromising the integrity of Ghanaian passports.
Resetting our institutions to benefit all Ghanaians.
I wish all our Muslim brothers and sisters a Ramadam Kareem.
The Ghana Tourism Development Company, GTDC, under the leadership of Prof.Kobby Mensah has launched GTDC Campus Tourism Office at the University of Ghana.
The initiative aims to promote educational and domestic tourism by providing structured campus tour experiences showcasing key heritage sites, including the Archaeology Museum and the School of Performing Arts.
It will also offer students their first travel experience across the continent and inculcate in them love to visit Ghana’s heritage sites.
Addressing the gathering at the launch yesterday, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, described tourism as a vehicle for education and heritage preservation, stressing that the sector must inspire citizens to value and protect national culture for future generations.
The minister highlighted tourism’s connection to disciplines such as history, the arts, economics and environmental science.
The minister further noted that the private sector is the engine of tourism economy, adding that the engines require fuel, which is talents.” by investing in these young people today, you are securing the quality, the innovation and competitiveness of our own industry for tomorrow.
She added that the establishment of the office represents a deliberate investment in the intellectual capital of the country.
The GTDC boss, Prof.Kobby Mensah, said,”at GTDC, we believe that if our tourism has to be sustainable, we have to promote domestic tourism and a very big part of it is getting students to appreciate tourism and helping them to organise tours.”
He added that the University of Ghana itself is a huge heritage site which must be explored.
Prof.Kobby Mensah noted that the initiative, which is one of many to be established across the country, is a joint partnership between GTDC and University of Ghana.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, said the University is a custodian of heritage which goes beyond the structures and welcomed the establishment of the first Campus Tourism Office.
She was optimistic that the office would be put to good use to achieve the intended purpose.
The launch brought together Stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to nurturing future tourism and hospitality professionals.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Ghana has officially accepted an invitation to serve as Guest Country at Burkina Faso’s 22nd National Culture Week in Bobo-Dioulasso from April 22 to May 2, 2026.
The invitation was extended by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo, accompanied by the Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Ghana, H.E. David Kabré.
Receiving the delegation, Abla Dzifa Gomashie reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening cultural diplomacy and strengthening historic ties between the two nations.
She noted that the festival will create opportunities for young creatives, expand exhibition platforms and promote commercial exchange within the creative sector.
The event will feature cultural performances, a community village and gastronomy fair, an arts market, literary engagements, and a craft and trade fair.
Ghana’s participation is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between John Dramani Mahama and Ibrahim Traoré, while fostering collaboration within the creative ecosystems of both countries.
