Ghana closes Premium Passport Centers, shifts applicants to regional offices

Ghana closed its Premium Passport Application Centers (PACs) in Accra and Kumasi effective February 20, 2026, redirecting all applicants to standard regional offices. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the closure three days later on February 23, affecting both new applicants and those with pending premium applications. Premium centers offered expedited processing and enhanced services for higher fees, popular with business travelers. All premium applicants must now process at their respective Regional Passport Application Centers, where biometric data remains valid. Services remain operational nationwide, with status tracking via the official passport portal. Urgent cases should contact the Passport Office Client Service Unit. This aligns with Ghana's Passport Reforms Programme aiming for decentralization and digitization, including 24-hour processing and reduced fees. Nigeria's NIS also modernizes services, with contactless renewals and increased fees.

SOURCE: https://nairametrics.com/2026/02/25/ghana-shuts-premium-passport-centers-in-accra-and-kumasi/