In order to ease the financial burden on pilgrims, the government has reduced the cost of expedited passport processing.
The usual GH¢700 fee for a 32-page passport has been subsidized to GH¢500, with processing guaranteed within three days.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also launched a dedicated passport centre exclusively for Hajj applicants, a move aimed at streamlining the application process and ensuring a smoother travel experience for Ghanaian pilgrims.
Announcing the initiative at the Hajj Village on Tuesday, March 4, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa emphasized the government’s commitment to improving access to essential services for all citizens, particularly those undertaking the sacred pilgrimage.
“We are not oblivious of the fact that for many, securing travel documents promptly has been a major challenge. To address this, our ministry has set up this special passport centre, operational from March 4 to March 13, 2025, exclusively to serve Hajj applicants,” he stated.
Beyond Accra, the Ministry is extending the initiative by setting up dedicated kiosks at regional passport application centres to accommodate applicants from across the country.
“To extend this service to as many people as possible, we are also setting up dedicated kiosks at various regional passport application centres, ensuring that applicants outside Accra can also benefit from this initiative,” Mr. Ablakwa added.
The initiative, which reflects President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to efficient service delivery, has been widely praised by the Muslim community for making the Hajj travel process more accessible and affordable.
