Residents of the Western North Region are breathing a sigh of relief following the opening of a new Passport Application Centre in Sefwi Wiawso, a development many describe as long overdue.
For years, obtaining a Ghanaian passport was a stressful and expensive task that forced applicants to travel long distances in search of basic services.
Before the new centre was commissioned, residents often had to journey more than 400 kilometres to Accra or make repeated trips to cities such as Kumasi and Takoradi.
These trips came with transport costs, accommodation expenses and long hours spent in queues, placing a heavy burden on students, traders and families.
The new facility in Sefwi Wiawso has brought passport services closer to the people, cutting down travel time and reducing costs.
Many residents say the centre will make it easier to pursue education abroad, expand businesses and reconnect with family members outside the country.
At the commissioning ceremony, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs James Gyakye Quayson said the opening of the centre reflects the government’s commitment to improving access to public services.
He reminded officers posted to the facility to serve with professionalism and integrity.
“Applicants should be treated with the same respect you would show to members of your own family,” he said, while cautioning the public against using middlemen.
Western North Regional Minister Wilbert Petty Brentum assured residents that his office would work to protect the facility and ensure it operates smoothly.
He added that transparency and efficiency would be key priorities moving forward.
