Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed that 379 suspected foreigners have been arrested for illegally possessing Ghana Cards and attempting to obtain Ghanaian passports.
He attributed the surge in such activities to the growing value of the Ghanaian passport, which now allows visa-free travel to 42 countries.
Mr. Ablakwa said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has intensified security protocols to curb the abuse of Ghana’s passport system.
“Foreigners are trying to lay their hands on our passports, but we must be a step ahead. We are implementing a strict, no-nonsense approach. Any foreigner caught attempting to acquire a Ghanaian passport illegally will be arrested and prosecuted,” he stated.
The Minister further revealed that the passport application process has been tightened, with each mobile number now limited to a maximum of five registrations.
He explained that the measure followed the detection of multiple applications linked to the same phone numbers, which have since been blocked.
He noted that the new system was carefully designed to reflect community demographics and family structures, preventing loopholes and misuse.
Mr. Ablakwa reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of Ghana’s passport and national security, warning that offenders would face the full force of the law.