Parliament has adopted the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on annual budget estimates for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the year 2025 thereby approving a total of One Billion, Four Hundred and Eighty-Six Million, One Hundred and Ninety-Nine Thousand, Seven Hundred and Seventy-One Ghana Cedis (GHC1,486,199,771.00) for the implementation of the programmes and activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration for the financial year ending 31st December 2025.
Presenting the committee’s report for adoption, the chairman, Alfred Okoe Vandapujie said, the Committee, having taken cognizance of the critical role played by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in enhancing Ghana’s international image, promoting economic diplomacy, and contributing significantly to public awareness of Ghana’s international rights and obligations, is of the considered view that the Ministry must be adequately resourced to effectively discharge its mandate in the 2025 Financial Year.
He disclosed that the Committee was briefed about the Ministry’s plans to recruit an additional 100 staff to enable the implementation of a comprehensive shift system under the Government’s 24-hour economy agenda.
He mentioned that the recruitment is aimed at significantly enhancing passport service delivery and reducing turnaround times.
Further, the Ministry planned to link the passport to the Ghana card, and restructure the integrity of the. Accra International Conference Centre, establish Ghana Mission in Hungary, and reduce passport fees among others.