Chip-embedded passport was fully executed by Akufo-Addo gov’t - Abu Jinapor

Samuel A. Jinapor, the Ranking Member of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, has clarified that the wide instauration of Ghana's chip-embedded passport is not a caller authorities initiative, arsenic immoderate person suggested, but alternatively the effect of years of cautious planning, procurement, and implementation during the erstwhile Akufo-Addo administration.

In a property connection dated May 6, 2025, Jinapor outlined the argumentation actions and timelines that culminated successful the palmy instauration and rollout of the chip-embedded biometric passport program.

He described consequent attempts to relaunch the inaugural arsenic “unnecessary” and a misrepresentation of the facts.

“Every indispensable facet of the chip-embedded passport programme—from argumentation formulation to declaration execution and logistical delivery—was meticulously completed by the Akufo-Addo Government earlier it handed implicit connected 7th January 2025,” helium emphasized.

Jinapor noted that the inaugural was inspired by the 2013 ICAO TRIP Strategy, which promoted the adoption of physics question documents. While preliminary discussions began nether earlier administrations, helium asserted that it was the Akufo-Addo authorities that prioritized the programme successful 2017 arsenic portion of its broader digitalization agenda.

He elaborate however 25th Century Technology Limited and Buck Press Limited were selected done a competitory procurement process to execute the task nether a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The 2 firms subsequently formed Biometric Travel Solutions Limited. This arrangement, Jinapor noted, helped minimize the fiscal load connected the state.

High-ranking officials received the archetypal batch of chip-embedded passports, which were formally launched by then-President Akufo-Addo connected December 2, 2024. At the time, the task had already secured 50,000 passport booklets, with an further 200,000 connected order, laying the groundwork for a creaseless nationwide rollout.

“It is, therefore, done the hard enactment and dedication of the Akufo-Addo Government that Ghana is present issuing physics chip-embedded passports,” Jinapor stated.

The erstwhile Minister for Lands and Natural Resources urged the existent medication to “focus connected effectual organisation and roll-out” alternatively of seeking recognition for the initiative.

He criticized what helium described arsenic the existent government’s “alleged re-launch,” calling it “an unnecessary load connected the nationalist purse” and a betrayal of organization integrity.

Jinapor concluded by affirming the Minority Caucus of the Foreign Affairs Committee's committedness to protecting the nationalist involvement and ensuring the humanities grounds is acceptable straight.

KA

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