A Passport Application Centre has been inaugurated in Bolgatanga, the capital of the Upper East Region, over the weekend.
The newly established passport office has brought immense relief and serves as a symbol of progress for local residents who previously had to travel several miles to Tamale in the Northern Region to obtain a passport.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said, “Today, we are here to celebrate togetherness. We are here to celebrate passion, concerted effort, refusing to take no for an answer, and deciding that an injustice which has existed for so many years — where the Upper East Region, with an estimated population of about 1.3 million, never had a passport office — must end.”
The Minister noted that people previously had to travel long distances to Tamale to access one, enduring risks, spending resources, and facing great inconvenience just for their biometrics to be taken. He described this situation as “very appalling.”
According to him, the establishment of the passport office would bring enormous economic prospects to the people of the region. He explained that the initiative would create jobs, stimulate local enterprises, and enhance revenue generation — all of which would contribute to long-term economic growth.
Mr. Ablakwa commended the Alagugumbe Association, led by its founder, Gabriel Akakiire Agambila, for mobilising funds for the renovation of the passport office. He said the initiative aligned with the John Dramani Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s commitment to implementing the “reset agenda.”
“Development must not be centered in certain areas of our country. Government services must be made available to all parts of Ghana so that all of us can feel a part of our national progress and transformation. We are delighted to be part of this history-making progress today,” he added.
He also praised the management of the Ghana Commercial Bank in the region for releasing part of its office space for the passport centre. Mr. Ablakwa described the facility as a model of community ownership, achieved through teamwork by patriots associated with the Alagugumbe group.
The Minister further noted that the newly inaugurated centre represented a victory for success, a symbol of recognition, and a reward for resilience. He lauded his team from the ministry, particularly the Consulate Humanitarian Affairs Bureau (COHAB) and the Information Public Affairs Bureau (IPAB), for ensuring that the office met all modern standards.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Atanga Akamugri, said the announcement of the passport office’s opening swept through towns and villages like a festival trumpet. He added that its economic impact would be lasting, as it bridges the gap between government and citizens in the region.
The Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Roland Atanga Ayoo, described the office’s opening as “a doorway to the world, a dream materialised, and a testament to the fact that the voices of ordinary people have finally been heard.”
Similarly, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Nabdam, Francis Yenwona Tobig, said the inauguration of the passport office restored dignity to the people. “The hustle of travelling long distances for passports is over,” he declared.
Source: Ghanaian Times
