The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has expanded passport services to the Bono East Region with the commissioning of a new Passport Application Centre in Techiman, a move aimed at easing access for residents who previously travelled long distances for documentation.
The facility, inaugurated on Tuesday, December 30, forms part of a nationwide passport reform initiative designed to improve efficiency, widen access and eliminate barriers in the acquisition process.
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration James Gyakye Quayson said the centre reflects the government’s broader effort to modernise passport administration and make the process fairer for all citizens.
According to him, the absence of a passport office in the region had long forced applicants to journey to Sunyani in the Bono Region or Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, creating unnecessary inconvenience and expense.
Mr Quayson noted that the Techiman centre represents a major shift in how passport services are delivered, adding that the introduction of improved systems would reduce the influence of middlemen and protect the integrity of Ghana’s passport process.
He also said the new facility would contribute to economic growth in the area by easing mobility and supporting business activities in the region.
Techiman, he observed, occupies a strategic position in Ghana’s socio-economic structure, making the establishment of the centre both timely and necessary.
The Nifahene of the Techiman Traditional Council, Nana Boakye Ameyaw Pentemprem, praised the government for situating the facility in the region, describing it as a major relief for residents.
He said the centre would significantly reduce the burden previously faced by people seeking passport services and commended the government for delivering on a key campaign promise.
“We all know, every citizen has a right to acquire a passport. However, passport acquisition has since become burdensome for people in the region.
“The inauguration of this facility means a lot to the people in this region,” Nana Pentemprem said, according to a Graphic Online report.
The Bono East Regional Minister, Francis Owusu Antwi, also welcomed the development, noting that the region had seen several infrastructure projects in recent months under the current administration.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to investing further in the region, particularly in infrastructure, to close existing development gaps.
Mr Antwi added that the opening of the passport office demonstrated the administration’s determination to decentralise public services and bring essential government facilities closer to the people.
