The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a strong warning to the public about the rising threat of fraudulent activities and misinformation in matters relating to its services. Citizens have been cautioned against engaging unauthorized agents, submitting forged documents, or relying on unverified information, with the Ministry stressing that such actions constitute criminal offenses punishable under the law.
To safeguard the public, the Ministry clarified that all official information, updates, and clarifications regarding its services are only available through its official website, accredited media outlets, verified social media platforms, and designated Ministry offices in Accra or accredited Missions abroad.
Services including document attestation and legalization, Travel Certificates, and Laissez-Passers must be conducted directly with Ministry officers. The Ministry emphasized that under no circumstances should applicants make payments to middlemen or unauthorized individuals, as doing so exposes them to exploitation and undermines transparency.
Payments for services are strictly to be made in cash at the Ministry’s designated payment points and received only by officials from the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department. Applicants are issued official receipts, which must be submitted along with documents for processing. This system, the Ministry said, ensures accountability and reduces opportunities for fraud.
To guide citizens, the Ministry outlined official fees and processing timelines:
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Document attestation and legalization: GH¢200, processed within five working days.
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Travel Certificates: GH¢200, processed within two to three working days. Applicants must confirm with airlines whether Travel Certificates are accepted.
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Laissez-Passers: GH¢200, processed within two to three working days.
Applicants are required to submit the necessary verified documents and identification, along with the official receipt from the Ministry’s payment point, for their applications to be processed.
The Ministry reiterated that its caution aims to protect citizens from fraudulent schemes, uphold the integrity of services, and ensure transparent and efficient service delivery. Members of the public are urged to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities, and rely solely on official communication channels to avoid falling victim to misinformation or illegal practices.
