By James Amoh Junior, GNA
Accra, Nov. 12, GNA-The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the era of “Goro Boys” in Ghana’s passport application process has come to an end following comprehensive reforms that have dismantled middlemen networks and restored transparency to passport service delivery.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced that the once-pervasive illegal enterprise of intermediaries who exploited citizens seeking passports had been eliminated through technology, accountability, and public awareness.
“The era where the so-called Goro Boys were running amok and calling the shots, deciding who got passports and when they got them, is over,” Mr. Ablakwa stated emphatically.
He said, “We have successfully waged a war against them, and they have beaten a fast retreat. Their industry has collapsed.”
For years, Goro Boys, unofficial agents, who charged exorbitant fees to ‘fast-track’ passport applications, had taken advantage of loopholes, misinformation, and limited access to passport services to exploit citizens.
Their activities often led to corruption, delays, and public frustration with the passport system.
The Minister explained that the Ministry’s digitisation of passport services, coupled with the introduction of online applications, e-tracking, and secure courier delivery, had effectively dismantled the illegal middleman network.
“You no longer need anyone to help you apply for a passport. The process is now simple, transparent, and fully online,” he said. “With your smartphone or computer, you can apply directly through www.passport.mfa.gov.gh without ever speaking to a middleman.”
Mr. Ablakwa stressed that the government’s zero-tolerance stance on illegal intermediaries was not only about convenience but also about protecting citizens’ personal data and national security.
“These Goro Boys were not just taking advantage of people financially; they also posed a security threat. They tampered with sensitive information and created avenues for forgery and impersonation,” he warned, and that “We are determined to ensure that this never happens again.”
The Minister revealed that the new chip-embedded passport system, launched in April 2025, has also strengthened the Ministry’s ability to prevent fraud and identity theft.
The embedded microchip securely stores applicants’ biometric data, making duplication impossible and significantly improving the document’s global credibility.
He said the reforms were not only dismantling corruption but also restoring dignity to public service, adding that “For too long, people thought you needed connections to get a passport. Today, it doesn’t matter who you know, the system works for everyone, fairly and efficiently.”
The Ministry, according to him, has also intensified law enforcement collaboration to prevent any attempts by individuals to revive the illegal middleman practice.
“Anyone found attempting to resurrect the Goro Boy phenomenon will be promptly apprehended and prosecuted,” the Minister warned.
He said, “This is an illegal enterprise, and we will not allow a few dubious individuals to undermine the progress and credibility we have achieved.”
Mr. Ablakwa attributed the success of the reforms to the Ministry’s passport digitisation agenda and to the dedication of staff who have worked tirelessly to make the system efficient and credible.
He noted that Ghanaians now enjoyed faster processing times, with ordinary applications delivered within 15 days and expedited ones in under seven days, while passports are delivered to applicants’ doorsteps via Ghana Post and ShaQ Express, at no extra charge.
“You don’t need to pay anyone to collect your passport or to speed up your application. The process is automated and affordable,” he said.
The Minister further encouraged citizens to take advantage of the new 24-hour operations at the Passport Head Office and to rely on the Ministry’s official communication channels for assistance, rather than unverified agents.
Mr. Ablakwa said the reforms had also transformed public perception of the Ministry, once associated with inefficiency and delays, into a model of responsive public service.
“This is not just a reform; it’s a cultural shift in governance. We have replaced suspicion with confidence, confusion with clarity, and corruption with credibility,” he declared.
He reaffirmed that the Ministry remained committed to continuous improvement and the integration of technology to further streamline services.
“The passport application system now belongs to you, not to middlemen. Every Ghanaian can now apply with confidence, track their passport, and receive it at home. The only thing extinct in this system are the Goro Boys, and they are never coming back.”
GNA
Edited by Christian Akorlie