Foreign Ministry to issue only ‘proof of emergency’ passports

Passport applicants, within the next four weeks, will have to prove they urgently need the passport to serve a particular purpose before they are issued one.

This is part of precautionary measures by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to fight the coronavirus and prevent its further spread in Ghana.

The ministry in a press statement announced that the move, which is temporary, will take effect from Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

“In keeping with the government’s efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has instituted temporary measures with the acquisition of passports. Please note that only passport applications with ‘PROOF OF EMERGENCY’ will be attended to for the next four weeks at all passport centers across the country beginning Tuesday, March 17 2020,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the country has confirmed six cases of the COVID-19, with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announcing measures to curb the spread, including suspension of public gatherings for four weeks and closure of universities, senior secondary and basic schools indefinitely.