Eastern Region Passport applicants rise

The demand for passports in the Eastern Region is rising steadily in recent times following the introduction of the computerisation processing procedures by both the Directorate of Passports and the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS).

Records at the Eastern Region GIS at Koforidua indicated that 527 passports have been issued between January and March this year. While 1,581 passport applicants were served in 2000, the figure rose to 2,365 last year.

The Eastern Regional Immigration Officer, Mr. Odartey Lamptey, told the Ghana News Agency on Thursday it takes up to six weeks to process and deliver passports to applicants in any part of the region.

He attributed delays to the need to ensure that an applicant was "security straight," based on the information provided on the application form. ''In a few cases, the applicant is invited to clarify certain issues''. Mr. Lamptey said the two agencies are trying to live up to the four-week period of processing and delivery of passports as announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs recently.

''Sometimes delays are due to either computer breakdown or checking of information provided by an applicant''. On the presence of expatriates in the region, he said those with resident permits were mostly spouses of professionals and missionary workers.

Mr. Lamptey said most tourists reside in Accra and pay short visits to tourism attraction sites. Such persons are not obliged to register their presence at the GIS offices once they possess their visas and stay permits.

Mr. Lamptey expressed concern about the failure of most hoteliers to furnish the service with returns on non-citizens who lodged in their facilities even though they had been supplied with the appropriate forms to do so fortnightly. To improve the situation, he announced that the GIS had plans to mount education fora for hoteliers in the region on their obligation towards enhancing national security.

He appealed to the public, especially landlords and hoteliers, to inform the GIS about any suspicious aliens in their communities to ensure that their movements were monitored for possible interrogation before they indulged in any criminal activities.

On the issue of Fulani herdsmen and the destruction of the environment by their herds, Mr Lamptey explained that in view of its "sensitive nature", the government was handling it, saying the service was waiting for a directive on them.

Mr. Lamptey, who complained about the lack of adequate accommodation for the Regional Office, appealed to the Eastern Region Co-ordinating Council to come to their assistance.