Chip-Embedded Passport Rollout Was Completed Under Akufo-Addo

Samuel A. Jinapor, Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee in Parliament, has responded to recent claims that the current government launched Ghana’s chip-embedded passport, clarifying that the successful rollout of the passport is the result of extensive planning and execution under the previous Akufo-Addo administration. He described the ongoing efforts to re-launch the initiative as unnecessary and a misrepresentation of the facts.

In a press release dated May 6, 2025, Jinapor outlined the comprehensive steps and policy actions that led to the creation and implementation of the chip-embedded biometric passport. He emphasized that the initiative was the culmination of years of strategic planning and execution by the Akufo-Addo government, and not a new project by the current administration.

“From policy formulation to contract finalization and logistical execution, every aspect of the chip-embedded passport programme was completed under the Akufo-Addo government before the transition of power on January 7, 2025,” Jinapor stated. He added that claims suggesting otherwise are inaccurate and a misrepresentation of the reality of the programme’s development.

The project’s origins trace back to Ghana’s adoption of the 2013 International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) TRIP Strategy, which advocated for the implementation of electronic travel documents worldwide. While initial discussions on the project began under previous administrations, it was under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo that the project gained real momentum. In 2017, the Akufo-Addo government prioritized the biometric passport system as part of the broader digitalization agenda.

Jinapor also provided insight into the procurement process that led to the selection of 25th Century Technology Limited and Buck Press Limited. These two firms came together to form Biometric Travel Solutions Limited, which executed the project under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. This approach, according to Jinapor, minimized the financial burden on the government, making the initiative both efficient and cost-effective.

The first batch of chip-embedded passports was officially launched on December 2, 2024, by then-President Akufo-Addo. High-ranking officials were issued the first passports, and by that time, 50,000 passports had already been produced. An additional 200,000 passports had been ordered, laying the groundwork for a smooth and expansive rollout across the country.

“It is due to the dedication and hard work of the Akufo-Addo government that Ghana is now issuing chip-embedded passports,” Jinapor stated. He urged the current administration to focus on ensuring the effective distribution of the passports rather than attempting to claim credit for a program that had already been fully implemented. Jinapor further criticized efforts to re-launch the initiative, calling it an unnecessary “burden on the public purse” and an attempt to distort the facts.

Finally, Jinapor reaffirmed the commitment of the Minority Caucus on the Foreign Affairs Committee to safeguard the national interest and ensure that the record is set straight on such important matters.