The first batch of beneficiaries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’(MFA) free passport replacement has received their reprinted passports following the devastating June 29 floods which destroyed their travel document.
The special intervention by the MFA saw the first batch of 100 beneficiaries presented with new chip-embedded passports at the MFA in Accra last Friday.
The initiative was launched by the MFA to ease the burden on those affected by one of the country’s worst flood disasters in recent years.
The intervention is also intended to provide immediate relief to flood victims while enabling them to regain access to an essential travel and identification document without the financial burden of replacement fees.
It formed part of a broader initiative to replace all verified passports lost or damaged during the floods at no cost to applicants.
Meanwhile, the remaining applications are being processed in batches after verification, with the ministry assuring applicants that the second and final rounds of issuance will take place once screening is completed.
Presenting the first batch of passports, the Chief Director of the MFA, Khadijah Iddrisu, said the ministry launched the initiative after recognising the widespread destruction caused by the floods and the hardship faced by many Ghanaians who lost their passports.
She explained that following a public announcement issued on July 3, affected persons were asked to submit applications together with the necessary supporting documents for assessment.
She said approximately 500 applications had so far been received and were being processed in phases to ensure that only eligible applicants benefited from the intervention.
She said while 100 passports had been completed for the first batch of beneficiaries, the remaining verified applicants would receive theirs after the ongoing screening exercise.
The Chief Director assured those yet to receive their passports that officers at the MFA and the Passport Office were working round the clock to complete the process as quickly as possible.
National solidarity
She said the intervention reflected the country’s long-held values of unity and collective responsibility, and added that beyond promoting Ghana abroad as a destination for trade, investment and tourism, the ministry also projected the country’s culture of caring for one another in times of need.
“When something touches one of us, it touches all of us,” she said, explaining that the free replacement exercise was intended to lessen the burden on fellow citizens recovering from the disaster.
Appreciation
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Richmond Debrah described the initiative as a timely intervention that had relieved victims of the significant financial burden of replacing passports lost in the floods.
He said beyond restoring their travel documents, the gesture had renewed the confidence of affected persons and demonstrated the ministry’s commitment to the welfare of Ghanaians during difficult times.
Mr Debrah expressed gratitude to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, management and staff of the ministry for their compassion, professionalism and swift response, and prayed for God’s continued guidance and strength for them as they serve the nation.
