Ghana: Requirements and procedures to replace a lost or stolen passport; whether applicants are fingerprinted to determine the issuance of previous passports; whether replacement passports have the same serial number as the one being replaced
For information on obtaining a Ghanaian passport, including requirements and procedures for inside and outside the country, and reissuing a lost or stolen passport through the Ghana High Commission in Ottawa, see Response to Information Request GHA104709.
In order to apply for a lost or stolen passport from abroad, the Ghanaian Embassy in Germany states that
[a]pplications for missing passports must be supported with a sworn affidavit with the HIGH COURT SEAL from Ghana indicating passport number if possible, how the passport got missing, place and date of issue as well as the bio data of the applicant. (Ghana n.d.a)
The Ghanaian Embassy in Washington, D.C., states the following with regard to the requirements and procedures to replace a lost or stolen passport:
- Missing Passports
The loss of the passport must be reported to the local police.
Requirements
- Cost of Passport form- $[US]30.00
- Processing Fee- $[US]200.00
- The form must be submitted with 4 colour passport size photographs (full face).
- Original Police Report indicating loss of passport.
- Birth Certificate (both original and photocopy).
- Completed declaration forms one of which should be notarized.
- Photo ID (colour copy).
- Processing Period could take up to 6 weeks from the date of receipt of application. (ibid. N.d.b)
The Ghana High Commission in London states that applicants for lost or stolen passports "must produce a Police Report, a birth certificate, an affidavit and Proof of Identity" (ibid. N.d.c).
Information on the Ghana Immigration Service's website regarding the requirements and procedures to replace a lost or stolen passport from within Ghana was unavailable at the time of researching this Report.
Information on whether applicants are fingerprinted to verify previous passport ownership could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. However, the following information may be useful. According to information posted on the website of Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ghana's biometric passports use "fingerprint recognition and facial recognition" technology which "enables easy verification and proof of ownership" (Ghana n.d.d). The website also states that Ghanaians who are abroad "qualify under the law [for biometric passports] and should apply through Ghana's Missions abroad" (ibid.).
The Ghana News Agency (GNA), a "central news collection agent of the state" established in 1957 that "gathers news from all regional, and some district, capitals" (GNA n.d.), reported in December 2014 that Hanna Serwaah Tetteh, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, directed Ghana's missions abroad to obtain biometric passport equipment that would enable them to produce such passports, including those with embedded chip technology (ibid. 17 Dec. 2014). The article states further that "their respective biometric machines would be linked with Ghana's Passport Office to ensure one main data or information [source] could be easily accessible by authorities" (ibid.). Further and corroborating information, including the current availability of this technology at Ghana's missions abroad, could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
Information about whether a replacement passport is issued with the same serial number as the one being replaced could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Ghana. N.d.a. Embassy of the Republic of Ghana in Germany. "Guidelines for Passport Applicants." <http://www.ghanaemberlin.de/en/consular-section/passports/guidelines-for-passport-applicants/index.html> [Accessed 8 Apr. 2015]
_____. N.d.b. Embassy of the Republic of Ghana in Washington, DC. "Passports." <http://www.ghanaembassy.org/index.php?page=passports> [Accessed 8 Apr. 2015]
_____. N.d.c. Ghana High Commission in London. "Passports." <https://www.ghanahighcommissionuk.com/Passports/PassportApplication.aspx> [Accessed 8 Apr. 2015]
_____. N.d.d. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. "FAQs: Acquiring Ghanian Biometric Passport 2012." <http://www.mfa.gov.gh/index.php?id=40> [Accessed 1 Apr. 2015]
Ghana News Agency. 17 December 2014. "Ghana's Missions to Procure Biometric Passport Equipment." <http://www.ghananewsagency.org/social/ghana-s-missions-to-procure-biometric-passport-equipment--83673> [Accessed 2 Apr. 2015]
_____. N.d. "About Ghana News Agency." <http://www.ghananewsagency.org/about-gna> [Accessed 9 Apr. 2015]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: The following were unable to provide information for this Response: Ghana – Embassy of the Republic of Ghana in Denmark; Embassy of the Republic of Ghana in Washington, DC.
Attempts to contact the following were unsuccessful within the time constraints of this Response: Ghana – Embassy of the Republic of Ghana in Germany, Ghana High Commission in London, Ghana High Commission in Ottawa, Immigration Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
Internet sites, including: African Union; BBC; Ghana – Embassy of the Republic of Ghana in Tokyo, Immigration Service, Ministry of Trade, Ghana High Commission in Ottawa; Interpol; United Nations – International Civil Aviation Organization.