By Goodwill Arthur-Mensah / Elsie Appiah-Osei

Accra, June 19, GNA – Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Okaikwei Central, says, reduction of passport fees, will not be feasible without Parliamentary approval.

Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, had earlier told Parliament of the government’s intention to reduce passport prices.

The government pledged to reduce passport prices from GH¢500 to GH¢350, but the reduction is yet to be implemented.

However, addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps on Wednesday, in Parliament House, Mr Boamah said: “The minister had previously indicated that passport prices will be reduced, but it has become clear that he did not have the authority to unilaterally make such a decision.”

“The minister does not have the power to unilaterally reduce passport prices without legislative approval. “The finance minister will determine whether passport prices can be reduced based on revenue projections,” he added.

According to the MP, the Finance Minister was expected to return to Parliament in August with the proposed legislation and until that, the intended reduction could not happen.

“I said the other time that the Minister did not have the authorization to unilaterally reduce passport prices. From the answers he gave today, it confirms that passport prices have not been reduced.

“It still remains a pledge of the government, not an implemented policy. We must make it clear to the Ghanaian public not to be carried away,” he said.

He noted that Ghanaians were patiently waiting, and it was the hope to see whether the Minister will follow through by August.

“Parliament will play a crucial role in approving any changes to passport prices through the legislative process,” Mr Boamah told the media.

GNA

Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade