Samuel A. Jinapor, the ranking member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, has explained that the widespread introduction of Ghana’s chip-embedded passport is not a recent government initiative, as some have claimed, but rather the product of years of careful planning, acquisition, and implementation during the previous Akufo-Addo administration.
Jinapor described the policy actions and timeline that resulted in the successful development and launch of the chip-embedded biometric passport program in a press release dated May 6, 2025. Jinapor called recent attempts to relaunch the initiative “unnecessary” and a misrepresentation of the facts.
“Every essential aspect of the chip-embedded passport programme, from policy formulation to contract execution and logistical delivery, was meticulously completed by the Akufo-Addo Government before it was handed over on 7th January 2025,” he emphasised.
The concept was inspired by the 2013 ICAO TRIP Strategy, which promoted the use of electronic travel papers, Jinapor said. He claimed that although preliminary talks had started during earlier administrations, the Akufo-Addo administration was the one that made the initiative a priority in 2017 as part of its digitalization program.
He explained how 25th Century Technology Limited and Buck Press Limited were chosen through a competitive selection procedure to work on the project using a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Together, they formed Biometric Travel Solutions Limited. He pointed out that this technique reduced the financial strain on the public coffers.
Then-President Akufo-Addo formally introduced the chip-embedded passports by December 2, 2024, and the first batch was distributed to senior officials. With 50,000 books already in store at the moment and another 200,000 ordered, the initiative was set up for a smooth nationwide launch.
“It is, therefore, through the hard work and dedication of the Akufo-Addo Government… that has led to Ghana issuing electronic chip-embedded passports,” Jinapor stated, urging the current government to “focus on the effective distribution and roll-out” rather than claiming credit.
