The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revealed that 379 individuals, suspected to be foreigners, have been apprehended for unlawfully possessing Ghana Cards and attempting to acquire Ghanaian passports.
Sector Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa clarified that the rise in such occurrences is a result of the heightened value of the Ghanaian passport, which now permits visa-free travel to 42 nations. He emphasized that the ministry has implemented new security protocols to combat fraudulent activities.
“Foreigners are attempting to gain access to our passports. We must stay ahead of this threat. Therefore, we have established a series of enhanced security measures. I can assure you that we are adopting a strict approach. Any foreigner who tries to obtain our passport will be swiftly arrested and prosecuted,” Ablakwa stated.
In an effort to bolster security, the ministry has also limited the mobile phone numbers that can be used for passport applications. “No mobile phone number will be permitted to register for more than five passport applications. We have identified a pattern of repeated attempts by the same numbers, and these numbers have now been blocked in our system,” the Minister elaborated.
Ablakwa further indicated that the new measures take into account community demographics, the average number of minors, and parental responsibilities, with the goal of preventing the exploitation of the system.
The Ministry reiterated its dedication to protecting Ghanaian passports and national security, cautioning that anyone found in violation of these measures will face legal action.
