379 foreign nationals in trouble for attempting to obtain Ghana passports-Foreign Minister
By DL News
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He said the spike in such cases was linked to the growing global value of the Ghanaian passport, which now grants visa-free access to 42 countries.
Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has disclosed that 379 foreign nationals have been arrested for illegally obtaining Ghana Cards and attempting to secure Ghanaian passports.
He said the spike in such cases was linked to the growing global value of the Ghanaian passport, which now grants visa-free access to 42 countries.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Ablakwa emphasized that the Ministry had heightened its security and verification systems to curb fraudulent passport acquisitions.
The Ministry has also restricted the use of mobile numbers in the online passport application system. Under the new rule, no single phone number can be used for more than five passport registrations, a move designed to prevent abuse and identity fraud.
Mr. Ablakwa explained that this policy was informed by investigations showing multiple applications linked to the same phone numbers, which have now been flagged and blocked.
He noted that the reforms take into account community demographics and family structures, ensuring that legitimate family applications are not unfairly affected while still tightening oversight.
The Minister reiterated the government’s resolve to preserve the integrity of Ghana’s passport and strengthen national security, warning that anyone involved in passport-related fraud would face severe legal consequences.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry says it will continue collaborating with the National Identification Authority (NIA) and security agencies to detect and dismantle criminal networks attempting to exploit Ghana’s passport system.
