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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, has inaugurated a Passport Application Centre (PAC) in Techiman, the Bono East Regional capital.
The new centre is expected to improve access to passport services for residents in the region.
At the inauguration on Tuesday [Dec 30], the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, James Gyakye Quayson, said the new centre was in line with the government’s broader passport reform programme aimed at ensuring equitability, easy accessibility and efficiency in the acquisition of passports by all Ghanaians.
Before the inauguration of the new facility, people had to travel to Sunyani in the Bono Region or Kumasi in the Ashanti Region to access passport services.
Reduce exploitation
Mr Quayson said the facility represented a fundamental transformation of passport administration and innovative systems that reduced the burden and exploitation by middlemen.
He explained that the centre would help safeguard the integrity of the Ghanaian passport and boost the socio-economic activities in the newly created region.
“Techiman occupies a unique and strategic position in Ghana’s socio-economic landscape.
Appreciation
The Nifahene of the Techiman Traditional Council, Nana Boakye Ameyaw Pentemprem, lauded the government for establishing the centre in the region.
He explained that the inauguration of the facility would help bring a great relief to the chiefs and people of the region.
Nana Ameyaw Pentemprem also commended the government for fulfilling such a major campaign promise and called for more of such development in the region.
“We all know, every citizen has a right to acquire a passport. However, passport acquisition has since become burdensome for people in the region.
Nana Pentemprem said, “The inauguration of this facility means a lot to the people in this region”.
Development
For his part, the Bono East Regional Minister, Francis Owusu Antwi, said for the past few months, the region had benefited from a series of developmental projects under the current administration.
He further pledged the government’s resolve and commitment to invest heavily in the development of the region, particularly in infrastructure to reduce its deficit.
Mr Antwi said the establishment of the new facility was a testament to the government’s commitment to bring services, particularly passport services, closer to the people in the region.
Writer’s email: biiya.ali@graphic.com.gh
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